Voters in Port Sheldon Township have approved an increase of its fire department operating millage for the next seven years. In Tuesdayโs special election, 65% of residents voted to increase the millage from 0.45 to 0.55 mills, or 55 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, from 2025 to 2031. Township officials said the millage will cost $110 per year for a home with a $200,000 taxable value, up from $90 under the current millage.
The millage increase was requested due to higher call volume over the past several years, increased wages and staffing needs, increased training requirements for certification and supply cost inflation, said township Supervisor Mike Sabatino. โOf course, our population has grown as well, so that has added to the increase in call volume,โ he said. The township estimates it will receive $326,957 of additional revenue from this millage in 2025. There was a total of 1,253 votes cast on the millage in Tuesdayโs election: 824 in favor and 429 against. Port Sheldon Township has a paid-on-call fire department. All 22 firefighters also have full-time jobs on top of their firefighting duties.
