CAST YOUR BALLOT ON ELECTION DAY: MAY 2, 2017

It’s an off election year in most locations so it’s not a surprise that the May 2 election ballot doesn’t have many items on it. In Berrien County, voters in two townships will vote on millage proposals as will residents in two school districts.
Galien Township residents will be asked to increase the general fund millage by eight-tenths of a mill for six years, from 2017 through 2022. If approved, the new millage is expected to raise $37,848 in the first year to pay for general operations.
Galien currently levies seven-tenths of a mill to support the general fund. Two years ago, in May 2015, voters turned down a request to raise the general fund millage rate by nearly three-tenths of a mill to bring the total general fund millage to one mill.
Township officials noted last week that they have cut expenses as much as possible, including cutting the salaries for the supervisor and treasurer. The township’s 2017-18 general fund budget does not include any possible millage increase and calls for revenue of $115,201 and expenditures of $114,945 for a $256 surplus.
Trustee Jerry Mast reported that the township’s total reserves are at $55,000 to $60,000 and has to cover annual expenses such as the $27,000 annual at-large drainage assessment which strain the budget. He said the board made some aggressive cuts to the new 2017-18 budget to try to stop the budget’s “bleeding”.
Mast noted that the new budget also doesn’t fully address other township needs such as developing a township master plan, updating ordinances, handling blight complaints and training new board and planning commission members.
Besides the existing general fund millage, the township also levies millages for roads, fire/safety, safety/ambulance and the library.
The other township millage proposal on the ballot is in New Buffalo Township where residents are being asked to approve a millage increase to fund public safety. The new millage would be for up to 1.4 mills for 10 years, from 2017 to 2026.
The millage would provide funding for any fire, police, ambulance or public safety purpose authorized. Part of the funds collected will be distributed to the New Buffalo Township Corridor Improvement Authority. The millage is expected to raise $799,000 in the first year.
School proposals on the ballot are sinking fund proposals for Benton Harbor Area Schools and the Buchanan School District.
In Benton Harbor, school district residents are being asked to approve a new annual levy of two mills for the next 10 years, from 2017 to 2026. The new revenue would fund the construction or repair of school buildings, school security improvements and technology upgrades.
If approved, the new sinking fund millage will raise $1.38 million in its first year.
The Buchanan sinking fund proposal changes what revenue from a 2014 sinking fund millage can be spent on. Superintendent Andrea van der Laan said the proposal does not change the amount or length of the levy, only what the money can be used for. The levy will raise $285,000 in its first year.
The levy will remain at eight-tenths of a mill and run through 2024. A new state law allows sinking fund monies to be also be spent on school security improvements and upgrading and acquiring technology as well as for building improvements.