November Levy Information

Why do the Parks and Roads Levies both say 1 mill, but collect different amounts?

Orange Township has two separate 1-mill levies on the ballot this November: a Parks Renewal Levy and a Roads Levy. While both are 1 mill, they are not expected to generate the same amount of revenue.

The difference is related to when the levies were originally established and how property values have changed over time.

• Parks Renewal Levy: This is a renewal of the existing parks levy, which was originally approved by voters in 2007. Because it is renewing an existing levy, it continues to be based on the property values associated with the original levy.
• Roads Levy: The proposed Roads Levy would replace two existing 0.5-mill road levies that are set to expire at the end of 2027. The new 1-mill levy would capture the value of new development and property growth that has occurred in Orange Township since the existing road levies were established.
• Same millage, different revenue: A mill is a tax rate, not a fixed dollar amount. Two levies with the same millage rate can generate different amounts of revenue depending on the tax base and how that levy is structured.
• Roads Levy: The proposed 1-mill levy is estimated to generate approximately $2.2 million annually.
• Parks Renewal Levy: The estimated cost to a homeowner with a $400,000 appraised value is approximately $80 per year, or $20 per $100,000 of appraised value.

In short, 1 mill does not automatically equal the same amount of revenue for every levy. The age and structure of a levy, along with changes in property values and new development, can affect how much revenue it generates.