Fruitport Township Voters Face Crucial Decision on Police & Fire Funding This August

When the August 4 primary rolls around, households in Fruitport Charter Township will find a familiar line item on their ballot: a pair of millage proposals that could keep local police and fire departments humming for the next four years.

The township board is asking voters for a total of 2.5 mills. One portion—originally set at 1.5 mills—covers the combined public‑safety operation, while a second, separate levy of 1 mill is earmarked solely for police protection.

Because of the state‑wide Headlee Amendment rollback, those numbers get trimmed a touch. The public‑safety levy drops to 1.4892 mills and the police‑only levy to 0.9845 mills. It’s a subtle math tweak, but it does affect the bottom line for every homeowner.

To put it in plain terms, a house worth about $200,000 would see an extra $150 a year for the combined police‑and‑fire millage and another $100 a year for the police‑only millage. Multiply that across the township and you’re looking at roughly $1.2 million in revenue for public safety and about $810,805 for police alone, according to the board’s projections.

If the community says “yes,” the funds would kick in this year and stay on the books through the 2030 election cycle. If the answer is “no,” the township will have to revisit its budgeting assumptions, possibly pulling from other sources or trimming services.

All of this is being shepherded by Fruitport Charter Township officials, who say the millages are essential to maintaining response times, upgrading equipment, and covering rising personnel costs. The decision is, ultimately, up to the voters—who will weigh the modest tax increase against the promise of continued public safety.

Since the proposals are slated for a primary election, there’s no run‑off to worry about; the outcome will be decided once the polls close on Aug. 4. As the date draws near, you’ll likely see more flyers, neighborhood talks, and maybe a few town‑hall meetings, all aimed at helping residents make an informed choice.