2008 rate down .26 mills from '07.
Property owners in Glen Arbor Township will pay a lower millage levy for fire and rescue services on their Dec. 1 tax bills.

The Township Board voted unanimously during special session Tuesday to levy a total of 3.034 mills to support fire and rescue operations and debt services on its Public Safety Building.

Only one person attended the special board meeting, other than the board members and fire Chief John Dodson.

The 2008 spending plan remains unchanged from this year at $1,225,095. Sources of income include $230,000 from the township’s emergency services contract with Empire Township, up from $195,000 this year. Ambulance fees are expected to be down $2,000 from $42,000 this year. Interest income of $28,000 is expected to be up from $6,000 this year.

Operating expenses of $677,095 are budgeted for 2008, down $55,000 from 2007. Some $250,000 is designated for capital appropriations.

Based on the spending plan, the operational/capital millage was set at 2.73 mills, down 8.6 percent or .26 mills from this year.

While the millage to support operations will drop, the levy for debt service on the public safety building will increase .014 mills to .304. The levy is up from .29 mills levied this year and is expected to generate $103,388 in 2008, up from $92,560 this year — a 4.8 percent increase.

Fire departments in Suttons Bay/Bingham, Solon/Centerville, Leelanau Township and Empire are supported one or a combination of general fund contributions contracts with other townships, or extra-voted millage.

In 1994, the Glen Arbor Township Board established a special assessment district through which department operations are funded. The township Emergency Services Advisory Commission in concert with the fire chief prepares an operational budget and capital outlay proposal that are the subject of public hearings in August and September.

Upon adoption by the Township Board, all properties in the township are taxed at a rate to support capital and operational expenses. The levy, adopted by the Township Board, goes on the December tax bills.

The levies adopted are based on the township taxable property value which increased about $20 million from 2006 to $339,785,145.