Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By PAMELA JANSSON
Gogebic County — Depending upon where voters live, they will have four to five proposals to consider in relation to the Aug. 6 primary election.
Civic Center
A millage renewal for both precincts of the city of Ironwood will apply only to those voters. The proposal is to renew, or continue, 1 mill “for the continued operation, support and maintenance of the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center for a period of four years from 2025-2028.” One mill refers to $1 per every $1,000 of state taxable property valuation per year.
The following four proposals shall apply to all voters in all areas of Gogebic County
Senior Program
This proposal is to levy .60 mill (or 60 cents per $1,000 of state taxable property value) “for the operation of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency Senior Citizens Programs in Gogebic County.” The timing would be from 2024 through 2027.
EMS Renewal
This proposal, which The Globe has provided details on within recent issues, would allow Gogebic County to continue levying a rate not to exceed 1 mill ($.9943 on each $1,000 of taxable property value) on all property “to supplement countywide emergency medical care, equipment, training and other related expenses for emergency medical purposes.” This would run from 2025-2027 and also may be restored up to .50 mill for ($.50 per $1,000) for 2025 to 2027.
911 Surcharge
This proposal asks whether the county should authorize a monthly operational surcharge of up to $3 “on the monthly billings of landline, wireless and voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) service suppliers within the geographic boundaries of Gogebic County to be used exclusively for the funding of 911 emergency telephone answering and dispatch service within (the county), including facilities, equipment and operations.” This would run from July 1, 2025 through June, 2030.
‘Little Blue Bus’
A proposal relating to Gogebic County transit will ask voters whether to renew one-third mill “for the operation of the Gogebic County transit for a period of four years from 2025-2028.”
This millage, which began in 1985, would result in 33 cents of taxes for every $1,000 of state taxable property valuation per year.
Among other services, this taxation funds what is known as “the little blue bus” that provides transportation to citizens, including those with disabilities, who have no other means of travel.
