MILLBURY – Lake Township voters will be asked on Tuesday to renew a 1-mill levy for fire services.
The five-year levy generates about $242,000 annually.
The 1-mill levy is about 30 percent of the fire and EMS budget. EMS costs about $209,000 a year and fire
is $600,000.
There are two other continuing mills that support the fire department. Township, Walbridge and Millbury
residents also pay a permanent ¾-mill EMS levy.
The 1-mill levy on Tuesday’s ballot was last replaced in 1999 and renewed in 2004.
It pays for almost anything fire-related, including equipment, buildings, training and salaries. In Lake
Township, the 60 firefighters are paid on a "points" system.
Fire Chief Todd Walters has said if the levy was rejected, the department would have to cut training and
education programs, since pay isn’t a big issue with the part-time staff.