POLL: Are You in Favor of Chesterfield Police, Fire Tax Increases?

Chesterfield Township .

The Board of Trustees decided Wednesday to place a millage increase for police as well as a millage renewal and increase for fire on the general election ballot. The trustees unanimously agreed that the higher taxes are needed to keep the departments afloat in light of decreased revenue from property taxes.

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"It's now in the voters' hands," Supervisor Michael Lovelock said after the board agreed to place the issues on the ballot.

• The will ask voters to renew the existing mills, along with a .75 mill increase. The additional .75 mills will be added to the previously collected 2 mills for operations. The previously collected .5 mills for equipment will be also be on the ballot for renewal. If approved, the tax collection would be in effect for 20 years.

• The already collects 5 mills that do not require renewal. Voters will asked to approve another 2.5 mills that would be also be collected annually in perpetuity.

That means residents who own a house with a market value of $150,000 would pay a total of $243.75 extra annually if the police and fire taxes are approved, according to township officials.

On our Facebook page, readers have mixed feelings about the proposed increases.

Take our unofficial poll to weigh in and tell us your thoughts in the comments' section below.