College millage vote is Tuesday

On Tuesday, residents in West Shore Community College’s district will decide whether or not to renew the college’s operating millage.

The millage renewal request is for the amount of .7062 mill ($.7062 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for eight years beginning in 2014. The millage renewal is inclusive and subject to reduction. It would generate approximately $2 million for the college in 2014.

The millage does not pay for infrastructure, it is strictly for operational costs. West Shore currently is a debt free institution.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All voting districts in Mason County will be open for the WSCC request. The ballot language is as follows:

WEST SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION

This proposition is to renew millage for community college operating purposes which expires with the 2013 tax levy.

Shall the previous voted increase in the constitutional tax rate limitation on the amount of taxes imposed upon all property within the community college district of West Shore Community College, Michigan, be renewed in the amount of .7062 mill ($0.7062 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of eight (8) years, 2014 through 2021, inclusive, subject to reduction as provided by law, to provide funds for community college operating purposes (estimated to provide revenues of approximately $1,997,000 in 2014)?

There are tax increment authorities in the community college district that capture and retain for authorized purposes tax increment revenues from property taxes levied by the community college. Such capture would include a portion of this millage levy. The total amount of captured tax increment revenues from such millage in the first calendar year of the levy is estimated to be $45,000. The following tax increment authorities in the community college district presently capture a portion of the community college’s property tax levy: the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Manistee and Filer Charter Township; and the City of Scottville and Mason County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

​​​​​Yes ______
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​​​​​No ______