By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

In two additional items of local note on the ballot for the state primary election, the Clarkston Independence District Library millage passed, as well as the Springfield Township Advanced Life Support (ALS) millage.
The ALS millage won by a landslide as 74 percent voted ‘yes’ and 26 percent ‘no,’ while the library vote was similar with 68 percent ‘yes’ and 32 percent ‘no.’
Due to a greater demand for emergency medical care, uncertain availability of ALS units responding to Springfield Township, and increased response times from private ambulance companies, the millage was proposed so this critical service can be provided by the Springfield Township Fire Department.
The millage proposal was for ¾ of a mill for a period of 10 years. That rate would cost 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable value – or about $94 per year for the average Springfield Township property owner.

The additional funding will be used to increase staffing of paramedics and emergency medical technicians, enhance station coverage, and base two ALS ambulances at Springfield Township Fire Stations 1 and 2, located at 12800 Andersonville Road and 10289 Rattalee Lake Road, respectively.
In Clarkston, the library millage was a renewal of an eight-year millage that was authorized by the voters in 2014, not a new levy.
“We are so grateful to the community for their support in renewing the library’s funding,” said CIDL Director Julie Meredith. “Not only did the library millage pass in all precincts, but it was also announced last week that CIDL won ‘Best Library’ in WDIV’s Vote 4 the Best for the fourth year in a row.
“We are passionate about providing a library that makes our residents proud and use this to inspire us to keep getting better.”
The millage rate that was on the August 2 ballot was 1.1687 of one mill, which is equal to $1.16 per $1,000 of taxable value of all taxable property in the district.
This millage provides funding for the Clarkston Independence District Library and makes up 95 percent of the library’s annual operating budget. The rest of the library’s budget comes from state aid, library fees, interest, and penal fines.

TOP PHOTO: Springfield Township firefighters Andre Willis and Griffin Watts take part in the recent fishing derby. Photo provided