Presque Isle County voters to decide new museum millage Nov. 3
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ROGERS CITY - Presque Isle County voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve a new property tax to help pay for three local history museums.
The proposal asks for up to 0.25 mill for five years, from 2027 through 2031. If approved and levied, it would raise an estimated $274,300 in 2027, according to the ballot language.
The money would go toward historical preservation services through a contract with the Presque Isle County Historical Museum, Inc., the Great Lakes Lore Museum, Inc., and the Onaway Area Historical Museum, Inc., the ballot says.
The question appears on county ballots as Question 5, the Presque Isle County Historical Preservation New Millage Proposal. It is a new tax, not a renewal.
A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. At 0.25 mill, the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 would pay $25 a year. A home with a taxable value of $50,000 would pay $12.50 a year. Taxable value is often about 50% lower than a home’s market value.
The full ballot question reads: “Shall Presque Isle County be authorized to levy a new tax, collected annually upon the taxable value of property subject to ad valorem taxation in Presque Isle County in an amount not to exceed 0.25 mill ($0.25 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of 5 (five) years, 2027 through 2031 inclusive, for the purpose of providing historical preservation services through a contract with the Presque Isle County Historical Museum, Inc., the Great Lakes Lore Museum, Inc., and the Onaway Area Historical Museum, Inc.”
The ballot language adds that the estimate of revenue the county would collect in 2027 “is approximately $274,300.”
The proposal reached the ballot after months of discussion by the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners first took up a historical society resolution April 9 but tabled it so they would have time to read the agreement, according to board minutes. On April 24, the board voted 3-2 to adopt a millage resolution for the August ballot. Commissioners Robin Hughes, Robert Brietzke and Joe Libby voted yes. Chairman Cliff Tollini and Commissioner Rob Crook voted no.
The question did not make the August ballot. At the board’s June 11 meeting, Mike Breadow, listed in the minutes as treasurer, told commissioners the group was disappointed it did not get on the August ballot but believed everything needed was now before the board, according to the minutes. He then asked that it be placed on the November ballot.
The board approved that request 3-2, with the same commissioners on each side. On June 26, commissioners adopted Historical Preservation Resolution 2026-18 by another 3-2 vote.
The Presque Isle County Historical Museum has urged a yes vote on its website.
“A funding gap threatens the operational hours and upkeep of our historic artifacts and sites,” the museum says on a page titled “Save Our Museums.” It says passing the millage “is necessary to prevent a budget shortfall and keep our museum doors open.”
The museum says that while the three museums do “extensive fundraising,” it “isn’t supporting the museums’ needs.”
Besides its exhibits, the county museum runs the King Room in its annex, which holds photos, documents, county cemetery records and military books for researchers, according to its website.
The museum question is one of several county proposals on the Nov. 3 ballot. Voters will also decide a renewal of the county’s separate tax limitation, a recycling program millage, a 911 operating surcharge renewal and special education millages for the area’s educational service districts.
Statewide, voters will decide whether to call a constitutional convention and a proposed law on campaign contributions from regulated utilities and government contractors.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Voters can preview their sample ballot and find their polling place through the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote.