The Newton Township board will try again in November to encourage voters to pass a fouryear, one-mill proposal to fund its fire and ambulance operations. Voters turned down the millage, 51-41, in the August 8 primary, but approved a four-year, one-mill tax levy for road maintenance and improvements by the same margin, 52-42, which will generate an estimated $32,800 per year.

Millages are rarely brought to the voters in Newton Township, said Township Fire Chief Neil McArthur. In fact, until now, he said, Newton Township was the only unit in Mackinac County without special millages to fund services. The exception has been the millage for Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace.

Township Supervisor Bob Brotherton believes more people will show up for the November elections.

"Primary elections aren't usually as popular here," he said. "Two years ago, for the presidential election, we had 250 voters turn out. This year, we only had about 100. I was surprised it was that low, especially since this was the first time with these millages."

The township has 338 registered voters.

Mr. Brotherton said a large population of retirees who live on a fixed income may have contributed to the defeat, however, "this money will benefit all of us, it stays in our township," he said. "Otherwise, they're not making the investment into this township and it will show."

Newton Township has its own fire department but shares ambulance services with Portage Township.

Costs for operations and expenses for both departments have increased each year, according to Township Clerk Alice Zdebski. This year, the township paid $6,000 to Portage Township for ambulance service.

The fire department, said Mrs. Zdebski, was hoping to raise enough money over four years to upgrade one of its older tankers by purchasing another used tanker in better shape.

If the fire and ambulance millage passed, the $32,800 generated over the four-year period would have benefited everyone and the entire township infrastructure, said Mr. McArthur.

"We're not looking for a new apparatus or a brand new pumper," said Mr. McArthur. "We're spending about $28,000 to $29,000 a year to keep our fire and ambulance services going. By passing that millage, we would be able to free up more money in the general fund."

Converted to taxes, one mill is assessed as $1 for each $1,000 of taxable value. The owner of a house with a taxable value of $100,000, assessed one mill, would pay $100 in taxes a year to fund the proposal.

The fire department has two tankers and two pumpers. The tanker that is in most need of replacement is the department's 1979 Ford, which has compiled more than 80,000 miles and is "nickel and diming us," said Mr. McArthur. Its newest vehicle is a 1986 pumper. The tanker firefighters most rely on was made in 1968, although its 1,600-gallon tank was replaced with a newer one.

Mr. McArthur said the millage will also allow the fire department to start a fund reserve for unexpected expenses, along with future planning and upgrading.

Mr. McArthur can see why voters are not pressed to upgrade the township's fire service, since volunteer firefighters may only make 20 runs a year and they usually contend with only brush, grass, and vehicle fires, and, he said, the township is well covered by a mutual aid agreement with neighboring townships. But, he said, "it's risking someone's life if we can't get our tanker or pumper started when there's an actual structure fire."

"I don't think people here are too concerned with the possibility of their house catching fire," Mrs. Zdebski added. "They are more concerned with what is happening now, not what could happen."

Township Treasurer Marilyn Strickland said it is up to the board to make a better effort to educate the public and get the voters to understand the necessity and importance of the fire and ambulance operations millage.

"We held an informational meeting about why we were asking for the millages, but we only had 15 people show up for it," she said. "We might need to get the firefighters out there to spread the word."

"Until their house burns down, they won't think that this millage is vital," said Mr. McArthur. "If road maintenance is what is the most important to them, then we have to make them understand that if we pass the fire and ambulance operations millage, it frees up that much more money in the general fund to help with roads even more. It's a trickle-down effect, financially."

Because there are not many roads paved in Newton Township, spraying them with brine to cut down dust is a high priority to residents, said Mr. Brotherton. Dust control is something that has to be dealt with each summer, thus, it was a popular concern in the elections. The roads are usually sprayed twice a summer.

The funding generated from the road improvement millage, said Mrs. Zdebski, will allow the township and Mackinac County Road Commission to go forth on some proposed road projects, which the township could not afford to do before.

The township, which has 57 miles of roads, participates in the county's matching funds program for road improvements. The township's contribution to the fund is $10,000, and the county and road commission each contribute another $10,000, for a total of $30,000.

"Paving roads is an expensive project," said Mrs. Zdebski. "But with this millage, we'll be able to at least start thinking or planning for it. We can at least afford to spray brine on more parts of our roads, not just in front of driveways and corners."