Voters in Montcalm County will determine the fate of a millage renewal for the Montcalm County Michigan State Extension, 4-H and Conservation District in the Aug. 2 primary election.
The millage renewal would allow Montcalm County to continue to levy 0.2000 mills (20 cents per every $1,000 of taxable value of real and personal property) for four more years (2023 through 2026) to provide funds for the three organizations. About two-thirds of the money will go toward MSU Extension and 4-H (which received $272,000 this year) and about one-third will go toward the Conservation District (which received $136,000 this year).
A Greenville Democrat is hoping to win the August primary election for a chance to face off against State Rep. Pat Outman for the newly redrawn 91st District.
Voters within the Tri County Area Schools district will decide on a non-homestead millage renewal for operating purposes in the Aug. 2 primary election.
Voters will decide on a two-year 18-mill renewal (2023 and 2024) that would see the school district receive $2.4 million in its first year for operating purposes. The 18 mills equates to $18 per each $1,000 of taxable value for non-homesteads only (such as rental properties and vacation homes).
The first in what promises to be a long line of local renewable energy ordinance referendums will be on the ballot in the Aug. 2 primary election.
The ballot question states, “On Dec. 9, 2021, the Winfield Township Board adopted Ordinance No. 12-921, which would amend the Township Zoning Ordinance to regulate the development and use of Solar Energy Systems. Do you wish to approve Ordinance No. 12-9-21?”
The Ionia County Board of Commissioners could see multiple new faces after the dust settles on this year’s elections.
Six commissioners are being contested for their seats — many by members of their own political party — while a seventh commissioner, Karen Banks, is not running for re-election.
U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar is being challenged by fellow Republican Thomas Norton in the August primary election for a chance to advance to November’s general election in the race for Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District.
The newly redrawn 2nd District includes all of Ionia and Montcalm counties, along with portions of 17 additional counties (mostly north).
At least one incumbent will be ousted from the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners in the Aug. 2 primary election due to redistricting, which reduced county districts (and thus commissioners) from nine to seven.
Commissioner Michael Beach of Bloomer Township and Commissioner Chris Johnston of Crystal Township are being forced to run against each other for the newly redrawn District 2, which includes the city of Carson City, the townships of Bloomer, Crystal, Day, Ferris and most of Evergreen Township.
Five townships in Montcalm County will ask voters in the Aug. 2 primary election whether to approve a variety of millage requests in the primary election — from roads to fire operations to police protection.
A vocal critic of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s policies is hoping to be re-elected as state representative of Michigan’s newly redrawn 93rd District, portions of which now include Ionia and Montcalm counties.
Current 93rd District State Rep. Graham Filler of St. Johns is being challenged by Alan Hoover of Fowler in the primary, with the winner going on to face off against Jeffrey Lockwood of Saginaw, a Democrat. Hoover did not return repeated messages seeking comment for this story.
Still hoping to find more room for books, technology updates and community spaces, the Ionia Community Library is once again proposing a millage for the Aug. 2 primary election to relocate the library to Mercantile Bank’s donated building.
It’s been a tough battle, as similar library millage proposals have failed three times in the last 17 years.
