Voters in seven communities will be asked to support extra-voted millages for fire and emergency services in the Aug. 4 primary election.
Four of the seven are part of Cedar Area Fire & Rescue — Solon, Centerville, Kasson and Cleveland townships.
The fire department was formed in 2016 when Kasson and Cleveland joined Solon and Centerville townships who had previously provided services on a contractual basis. The department is jointly owned by the four townships, with each township determining how to pay their fair share of expenses. The department’s 2026-27 budget totals $1,524,492.
Solon Township is requesting 3 mills for a two-year period to be used for equipment and operation of the department. If approved, the request would generate $460,000 in each year’s collection.
Voters in Centerville Township will determine the fate of a 2.5-mill renewal for fire and emergency services. The request, if approved, would generate an estimated $418,250 when collected later this year.
Cleveland Township is asking for 2.5 mills for 2026 through 2028 with $460,000 generated from December tax collection.
Kasson Township, the fourth member of the department, is asking for 2.5 mills for fire protection and emergency medical services. The 2.5-mill renewal is expected to bring in $429,00 in the first year it is collected.
Elsewhere in the county, voters will also consider requests.
Empire Township partners with Glen Arbor Township to support the Glen Lake Fire Department. Glen Arbor Township realizes their contribution through a special assessment district.
Empire’s contribution to department operations is the highest millage sought in the county at 7 mills. The levy rolled back to 6.51 mills this year. The township is seeking a Headlee override to the original millage of 7 mills.
The request is for a six-year period from 2026 through 2031 and will generate an estimated $2,331,661 in the first year if the full 7 mills are levied.
The county’s most-populated community, Elmwood Township, is seeking 2.75 mills for fire and emergency services. The previously authorized 2.6 mills expired after the December 2025. The proposal renews the 2.6 mill levy that had been rolled back to 2.5317 mills and increases the millage to a total levy of 2.75 mills.
The four-year levy would generate an estimated $1,402,627 in the first year it is levied.
And the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fire & Rescue Authority District is asking for 3.25 mills, which had been reduced to 3.1461 as a result of Headlee.
The three-year request, good from 2026 through 2028, is expected to bring in $2,337,166 when collected later this year.
Voters in Leelanau Township will consider a renewal of its police services millage. The previously voted .25-mill levy was reduced to .2423 mills. Township officials are seeking renewal of the .25-millage.
If approved, the four-year levy — from 2026 through 2029 — would generate an estimated $155,751 in the first year it is collected.
The renewal may be disbursed to Leelanau County for contract police services and related equipment.
The Glen Lake Community Library, which serves Empire, Glen Arbor and Glen Arbor townships, is seeking a renewal of a six-year millage at .2861 mills. If approved, the millage would provide an estimated $383,656 for the fist year of levy. The millage revenues will be disbursed to the Glen Lake Community Library in Empire.
