Pentwater District Library – August 4 Ballot Information

We’d like to share some clarifications about the Pentwater District Library’s 1.25 mill operating proposal on the August 4 ballot.

  • Pentwater voters have had a library millage for about 33 years.
  • That older millage started at 1.0 mill, but the Headlee Amendment has reduced it over time to 0.7913 mills.
  • The new 1.25 mill proposal is the District Library’s operating millage, which replaces and updates that old township library millage.
  • Residents of Pentwater Township and Pentwater Village are already paying about 0.79 mills for library services. This proposal brings the total up to 1.25 mills to support library operations and services for everyone in the Pentwater District Library area, (an increase of less than .46 mils for those already paying the current library millage).
  • Weare Township residents who are now inside the Pentwater District Library boundaries no longer use the old Weare Township library contract; if this millage passes, they will be paying a library millage for the first time as district residents.

 

Who is in the Library District and who can vote?
The Pentwater District Library boundaries follow the Pentwater Public School District, as approved by the State of Michigan when the library became a District Library on October 17, 2025.
This includes the portion of Weare Township (about 59.1%) that is within the school district, and residents in that area are part of the Library District and may vote on this proposal. Previously, Weare Township was served by contract, but that is no longer the case under the District Library structure.

What does the 1.25 mill proposal do?
The proposal would allow the library to levy up to 1.25 mills ($1.25 per $1,000 of taxable value) on all taxable property within the Library District for four years (2026–2029). If approved, this operating millage would provide funding for library operations and services across the entire district—such as staffing, materials, technology, programs, and basic building upgrades.

Why does the ballot say “new additional millage”?
The phrase “new additional millage” is required ballot wording under Michigan law for certain proposals.
In our case, it reflects the move to a district-wide millage and does not mean that an extra district tax is being stacked on top of an existing district millage; it is the operating millage that funds the District Library.

What about the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority language?
The ballot also notes that, by law, a portion of revenue may be subject to capture by the Oceana County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. This is standard, state-required language that appears on many local ballot questions where a county has a Brownfield Authority, and it is not specific to the library. Oceana County has a Brownfield Authority but currently has no active Brownfield projects, so this language does not indicate that funds are presently going to Brownfield redevelopment.

Where to Vote?

If you are eligible to vote on this proposal, Pentwater Township and Pentwater Village residents will cast their ballots on August 4th at the Pentwater Township Hall or by absentee ballots. 

Weare residents within the New District Library Boundaries will vote at Weare Township Hall or by absentee ballots.