Michigan › Manistee County › Bear Lake Township
What's on the ballot in Bear Lake Township, Manistee County
Michigan General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. · Early voting Oct 24–Nov 1. Every local race and proposal on the official Bear Lake Township sample ballot. Enter your address in the app to see your exact ballot with every candidate graded.
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Your district races
Statewide races (every Michigan ballot)
Governor
- BJohn James(R)
- FJocelyn Benson(D)
- CMike Duggan(Ind)
Attorney General
- N/RDoug Lloyd(R)
- N/REli Savit(D)
Local races in Bear Lake Township (8)
Court of Appeals District 4 — Judge of Court of Appeals
- CMichael J. KellyIncumbent
- DAllie Greenleaf MaldonadoIncumbent
- DMichelle M. RickIncumbent
19th Circuit Court — Judge of Circuit Court
- BDavid A. ThompsonIncumbent
West Shore Community College — Board of Trustees Member
- N/RDaniel LaMore
- N/RThomas S. Voss
Village of Bear Lake — President
- N/RShelly LynnesIncumbent
Village of Bear Lake — Trustee
- N/RRodney GeeIncumbent
Bear Lake School District — Board Member
- N/RJoshua Leffew
- N/RMarissa Lineberry
Kaleva Norman-Dickson School District — Board Member
- N/RBrent R. Haskin
- N/RJenna Meyer
- N/RJessica Ward
- N/RMegan Zupin
Onekama Consolidated Schools — Board Member
- N/RRachelle Hrachovina
- N/RKenneth Keillor
- N/RTara Lyman
- N/RMeredith McNabb
- N/RAmber Sedelmaier
Local proposals & millages (5)
Library Millage Renewal
Shall the expiring previously voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within the County of Manistee, State of Michigan, currently 0.9827 mill ($0.9827 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed and levied for a period of four (4) years, 2027-2030, both inclusive, and shall an additional 0.0173 mill ($0.0173 per $1,000 of taxable value) be approved and levied to restore previous millage reductions under the…
Official ballot language
Shall the expiring previously voted increase in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within the County of Manistee, State of Michigan, currently 0.9827 mill ($0.9827 per $1,000 of taxable value), be renewed and levied for a period of four (4) years, 2027-2030, both inclusive, and shall an additional 0.0173 mill ($0.0173 per $1,000 of taxable value) be approved and levied to restore previous millage reductions under the “Headlee Amendment” since this millage was last approved, resulting in the levy of 1.00 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value), subject to reduction as provided by law, on taxable property in the County? The purpose of this levy is to provide funds to be used for operation and maintenance of the Manistee County Library. It is estimated that a levy of 1.00 mill would provide revenue of $1,649,837 in the first calendar year, of which $28,542 would result from the additional 0.0173 mill. The revenue from this millage levy will be disbursed to the Manistee County Library. A portion of the millage may be subject to capture by and disbursed to one or more tax increment financing entities, including the City of Manistee Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the County of Manistee Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and the County of Manistee Land Bank Authority.
Fire Station Bond Proposal
Shall the Township of Bear Lake, County of Manistee, Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Four Million Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($4,065,000), and issue its unlimited tax general obligation bonds payable in not to exceed twenty (20) years from the date of issue, to pay all or part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, furnishing and equipping a new fire station, including all site improvements, appurtenances and attachments? If approved, the estimated millage to be levied in…
Official ballot language
Shall the Township of Bear Lake, County of Manistee, Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Four Million Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($4,065,000), and issue its unlimited tax general obligation bonds payable in not to exceed twenty (20) years from the date of issue, to pay all or part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, furnishing and equipping a new fire station, including all site improvements, appurtenances and attachments? If approved, the estimated millage to be levied in 2027 is 1.9532 mills ($1.95 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 1.9463 mills ($1.95 per $1,000 of taxable value).
Bear Lake Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 19.1039 mills ($19.1039 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be…
Official ballot language
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 19.1039 mills ($19.1039 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Bear Lake Schools, Manistee County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2028 to 2032, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2028 is approximately $1,313,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy)?
Kaleva Norman Dickson School District Operating Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18.9702 mills ($18.9702 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be…
Official ballot language
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18.9702 mills ($18.9702 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, Manistee, Lake and Mason Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2028 to 2032, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2028 is approximately $3,373,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy)?
Onekama Consolidated Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 19.3108 mills ($19.3108 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be…
Official ballot language
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 19.3108 mills ($19.3108 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Onekama Consolidated Schools, Manistee County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2028 to 2032, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2028 is approximately $4,328,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy)?
Voting in Bear Lake Township
- Election DayTuesday, November 3, 2026 · polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. If you're in line by 8 p.m., you can vote.
- Where to voteLook up your Bear Lake Township polling place, early-voting site and drop boxes at the Michigan Voter Information Center.
- Early votingOctober 24 – November 1, 2026 at sites set by your clerk.
- Absentee ballotsMust reach the Bear Lake Township clerk or a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Too late to mail safely — drop it off.
- Not registered?Register and vote the same day at the Bear Lake Township clerk's office with proof of residency.
- IDBring a photo ID, or sign an affidavit if you don't have one. Full checklist →
Other communities in Manistee County
Arcadia Township · Brown Township · Cleon Township · Dickson Township · Filer Township · City of Manistee · Manistee Township · Maple Grove Township · Marilla Township · Norman Township · Onekama Township · Pleasanton Township · Springdale Township · Stronach Township