SPARTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A clerk's error on the Sparta library millage renewal ballot could give the township authority to levy higher taxes than intended if the proposal passes in the August primary election.
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The word "not" was mistakenly omitted from the ballot language, changing the proposal from stating the millage "to not exceed" a certain rate to "to exceed," according to Sparta Village President Robert Whalen.
"The wording on it was originally supposed to be 'to not exceed,' and with the word not being in the ballot language, it is now worded to exceed," Whalen said.
The error means that if voters approve the 10-year millage proposal, the township could legally levy any amount they choose, Whalen said.
"They legally have the ability, per the Kent County Election Bureau, to levy whatever millage they want," he said.
The Kent County Clerk's office confirmed to FOX 17 the error cannot be corrected because the filing deadline has passed.
"Because the filing deadline had already passed, there was no mechanism to correct the language. Should the proposal pass, it must be implemented based on the language approved by the voters," the clerk's office said in a statement.
On Tuesday, to fix the problem, the Sparta Township Board passed a resolution stating their intent was for the proposal to say "not to exceed 0.2375 mill." However, Whalen questioned whether the resolution has any legal effect.
"I'm not an attorney, but you can't change ballot language with a resolution," he said.
Whalen is encouraging voters to reject the current proposal so the township can place a corrected version on the November ballot.
"As much as I support the library, there's no way I can vote yes on that millage. And I encourage everybody out there to vote no on it. But then, when it comes back up for renewal in November, I strongly encourage everybody to support that library millage. It's important," Whalen said.
Absentee voting for the August 4 primary is already underway, with early voting beginning Saturday.
Sparta Township Supervisor Dale Bergman was not available for comment and said he would discuss the matter next week.
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