City Resolves Millage Questions
By Leslie Rott

The Mackinac Island City Council lowered its overall millage Wednesday, June 29, but raised its budget for general operations about $60,000.

Overall, the city will spread 7.95 mills, down from 8.0 mills last year, but taxable values on the Island, attributable mostly to new construction and additions, increased $6,7819,234, to $168,520,994, so the lower millage will raise about $45,000 more than last year.

Since a mill is levied as $1 for each $1,000 in taxable value, each mill will raise $168,521 from all taxpayers.

Specifically, the city raised its general millage from 7.54 to 7.6 mills, which will raise $1,280,760 in taxes. Council lowered its fire hall debt retirement from 0.275 to 0.25, which will raise $42,130, and maintained its road improvement funds at 0.1 mill, which will generate $16,852 in taxes. A capital projects fund, used to upgrade Cadotte Avenue last year, was eliminated, saving $13,753 from last year.

Wednesday’s millage decision followed a Truth in Taxation hearing, attended by only one citizen. The hearing was actually a repeat of the previous week, when Council deliberated in more detail the assessments and millage needs, but that hearing was voided because some of the millage figures cited were from 2003.

In other business at the special session of City Council, individual motor vehicle permits were approved for Belonga Plumbing and Heating and the Mackinac Island Medical Center. Three motor vehicle permits were also approved for NBC’s Today Show crew, who will be arriving on the Island July 13 at 6 a.m. and leaving the Island on July 15 at 1 p.m.

Alderman Jason St. Onge said that having the television crew on the Island would be a “shot in the arm for tourism.” Other council members agreed and the motor vehicle permits were unanimously approved.