Lake Township in Missaukee County wants voters to approve a $209,000 road millage, the first time the township has requested a millage for road work.
Robert Hall, Lake Township supervisor, says the costs of road maintenance have about tripled in recent years.
Hall says the township needs the help to repave 30-year-old subdivision roads that the township is tasked with maintaining.
“There’s no way the township can afford to keep up with these roads like they need to be,” he said.
Without investment now, Hall says the roads could be harder to repair down the line.
“Most of them need to be paved, repaved — they haven’t been done since ‘94 so that’s what we’re looking to do,” he said. “After that, I think the township can maintain the roads in the future.”
Hall says that about two-thirds of the townships in Missaukee County have a road work millage.
He anticipates this ask to help the township finish the most pressing projects without having to make other funding requests in the near future.
The six-year proposal would levy one mill if approved, costing $100 a year for a house with a taxable value of $100,000.
Voters will have through election day on Nov. 5 to weigh in on the proposal. Absentee voting begins on Sep. 26, while in-person early voting will begin by Oct. 26. More information on voting can be found with the Michigan Secretary of State.
For more on Northern Michigan funding proposals, check out our November election guide here.