The Chippewa County Animal Shelter is asking for voters help to keep vital services going through 2030.
It is one of two county millage proposals on the ballot.
The Chippewa County Animal Protection Millage Proposal states:
"This proposal, if approved by the voters, will permit the County to fund the Chippewa County Animal Shelter to be used solely as a facility that does not euthanize for space, and, as such, the funding will be used to provide medical and supplemental care for the health, safety, and well-being of the animals housed and cared for at the Chippewa County Animal Shelter as well as pet adoption assistance, including spaying and neutering, to Chippewa County community members."
"Shall the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Chippewa County, Michigan be increased by .175 mill ($0.175 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of six years, being 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030, inclusive to provide operating funds to the Chippewa County Animal Shelter to be used exclusively to allow the facility to not euthanize for space, and to provide medical and supplemental care for the health, safety, and well-being of the animals housed and cared for at the Chippewa County Animal Shelter as well as provide financial assistance to Chippewa County community members, who income qualify, for spay and neuter, and shall the County levy such millage for said purpose, thereby raising in the first year (2025) an estimated $230,770?"
Holly Dawson-Henderson, director and animal control officer at the Chippewa County Animal Shelter, says rising costs are the main reason for the millage request.
"We did have to raise the millage this time because of the rising prices of vet care," Dawson-Henderson said. "The millage covers all medical, including vaccines, antibiotics, flea and tick medication as well as deworming. It also covers diagnostics and treatment for illnesses such as heart medication, insulin for diabetics, etc. The shelter, in addition, sponsors spay and neuter assistance for low income residents."
Beyond the costs of medical care of the animals at the shelter, it has had a no-kill policy for well over a decade.
"We’ve been a no kill for fifteen years. A no-kill shelter is an animal shelter that does not kill healthy or treatable animals based on time limits or capacity, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals, animals suffering poor quality of life, or those considered dangerous to public safety," Dawson-Henderson said. "We will unfortunately be forced to change our policies if the millage does not go through.
The second proposal is a millage renewal for the Chippewa County Senior Services and Programs, which states:
"This proposal will permit the county to renew its tax levy at .75 mills to provide operating funds for Chippewa County Community Action Agency's Senior Services and Programs in Chippewa County and will replace the millage previously levied for this purpose.
"Shall the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Chippewa County, Michigan be renewed at .75 mill ($0.75 per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of four years, being 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028, inclusive for the purpose of providing operating funds to continue and enhance Chippewa County Community Action Agency’s Meals Programs and Chippewa County Community Action Agency’s Senior Services in Chippewa County, thereby raising in the first year (2025) an estimated $989,000?"
