County sets millage rates (From 6-20-2012 County Press)

[William Gavette]

LAPEER COUNTY — Despite the confusing language in the legally-required public notice, no one showed up Thursday at the public hearing regarding the county’s millage for general operations.

The commissioners approved the millage rate of 3.7886 mills be put on the 2012 tax rolls, as well as the three voted-upon millages of .33 mill for the Lapeer County Medical Care Facility, .75 mill for 911 and .25 mill for senior citizens.

The county’s taxable valuation is $2,603,187,846.

Equalization Director Greg Hill was on hand to answer any questions the public had about the proposed millage, but since there were none, he instead briefly gave commissioners his opinion about the state of the economy, though, he said, his “crystal ball is pretty cloudy.”

“I think things are looking better in the way of sales and the economy in general,” he said, adding that while it will still be another “down year,” it won’t be as bad as last year. “We have some work ahead of us. I don’t want to say we’re completely out of the woods, but maybe we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

— Krystal Johns