Stanton voters weigh two countywide millage questions Aug. 4
Stanton voters will decide two countywide Montcalm County millage questions Aug. 4, covering senior services, MSU Extension, 4-H and conservation programs.
Stanton voters will see two Montcalm County millage questions on the Aug. 4, 2026, primary ballot. Early voting is available in Stanton through Sunday, Aug. 2.
Both proposals apply countywide, not only to property inside Stanton. If approved and later levied, the measures would affect taxable property across Montcalm County for four years, from 2027 through 2030.
Commission on Aging proposal combines renewal and new millage
The first question asks voters to authorize a total of 0.70 mill, equal to 70 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value. The proposed levy would run for four years, from 2027 through 2030.
The ballot language identifies 0.45 mill as a renewal of the rate expiring in 2026 and 0.25 mill as new additional millage. The stated purpose is to provide funding to increase services for Montcalm County’s growing senior population. The estimated annual revenue is approximately $1,961,163.15.
The proposal therefore is not entirely new taxation. Most of the listed rate would renew an existing millage, while the remaining 0.25 mill would be additional if voters approve the question and the county levies it.
MSU Extension and Conservation District renewal
The second question asks voters to renew 0.20 mill, or 20 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, for four years from 2027 through 2030.
The ballot says the money would provide operating funds for Montcalm County MSU Extension, including 4-H programs, and the Montcalm Conservation District. The 2026 estimates listed in the ballot are approximately $373,555 for MSU Extension and approximately $186,777 for the Conservation District.
The ballot describes the 0.20-mill question as a renewal of previously authorized millage. It should not be treated as an additional tax increase beyond that stated renewal without further official information.
Why Stanton’s DDA appears in the ballot language
Both proposals say that, to the extent required by law, a portion of the millage may be captured and retained by several downtown development authorities, including the City of Stanton Downtown Development Authority.
That language does not mean Stanton will automatically receive a dedicated share of the countywide revenue. It identifies the legal tax-capture treatment that may apply to participating authorities.
What the proposals could mean for property owners
A millage is calculated using taxable value, not necessarily a property’s market value or assessed value. The dollar effect therefore varies from property to property. The final impact also depends on whether voters approve each question and whether the authorized millage is subsequently levied.
The proposed rates are expressed per $1,000 of taxable value: 0.70 mill for the Commission on Aging question and 0.20 mill for the MSU Extension and Conservation District question. Residents should use their own taxable value when considering the potential effect rather than applying the countywide revenue estimates to an individual property.
Where Stanton voters can vote
On Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 4, Stanton City voters are assigned to Stanton City Hall, 225 S. Camburn St., Stanton, Michigan 48888. Polls are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Early voting is available at the Pandemic Readiness Building, 651 N. State St., Stanton, from July 25 through Aug. 2. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the listed days, except Wednesday, July 29, when the site is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Montcalm County election information page provides links for checking registration, polling information, absentee-ballot status and the official candidate and proposal materials. The two millage questions are countywide decisions, even though Stanton voters have local polling and early-voting locations.
Sources
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