Muskegon County voters narrowly gave approval to the Muskegon Area District Library's millage request in Tuesday's election. Of 15,428 voters, 50.44% voted in favor of the request, giving approval by a margin of 136 votes.
The approval will install a millage rate of 1.5143 mills, or $1.5143 per $1,000 of taxable value, over the next 10 years (2026-35) for properties within MADL's service area, which includes Montague and its surrounding townships as well as the Reeths-Puffer district. (Whitehall is served by the White Lake Community Library, which is independent of MADL.)
According to ballot language, an estimated $6.3 million in revenue will be generated by the millage in its first year. MADL said before the election that the slight increase in the rate from the existing 1.2143 mills was due to planned additional services, anticipated rises in cost of providing current services, and the possibility of Headlee amendment rollbacks.
An estimated 90% of library services are funded by the millage.
"We would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who spoke out in support of your local libraries and to everyone who voted," the Montague branch of MADL said in a Facebook post. "We look forward to 10 more amazing years bringing great library services to our communities."
Montague Township voters approved the millage 94-93, and White River Township voters approved it 156-102. City of Montague voters voted 'no' by a 200-192 margin, and Blue Lake Township voters turned it down 74-61.
Voters in Dalton Township and Muskegon Charter Township, each of which includes, in part, the Reeths-Puffer district, voted against the library millage. Dalton voters turned it down 557-379 and Muskegon Charter Township voted against it 1,326-979.
Muskegon Charter Township also was presented two public safety millage requests. Voters approved a renewal of an existing millage but rejected an additional millage.
The existing millage of 2.6802 mills was easily renewed for another 10 years despite having been rejected by voters back in May. The approval received 62.35% of the vote, with 1,436 votes in favor. According to ballot language, $1.396 million in revenue will be generated by the millage in its first year of renewal.
An additional millage of 2.5 mills, however, was roundly rejected in the township as just under 65% of voters turned it down. The additional millage drew 1,345 'no' votes. $1.303 million was the estimated first-year revenue for that request.
