Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 10:24 am EDT
The Brooks Township board along with the boards of Garfield Township and Croton Township have agreed to collect the Newaygo Public Schools property taxes in the summer tax bill. This would include the 7 mills of Newaygo School Debt and the 18 mills of Newaygo School Operating (non-homestead). This was done to allow Newaygo Schools to receive the majority of their taxes before the school year starts. This will minimize the need for the school to borrow money to begin the school year. Taxpayers could save approximately $60,000 in interest payments. You may qualify for a deferment of payment of the summer tax bill until the winter tax bill is due if your income is less than $35,000 and if you qualify for one of the following: 62 years of age or older, paraplegic or quadriplegic, eligible service person , eligible veteran or eligible widow or widower, blind or totally and permanently disabled. The property must also be your primary residence. If you have any questions regarding this information please contact Christina Haynor, Brooks Township Treasurer at 231-652-6763.

Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 10:22 am EDT
GET READY FOR THE 10th ANNUAL
BROOKS TOWNSHIP CLEAN-UP DAY!
BROOKS TOWNSHIP PROPERTY OWNERS ONLY!
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009

WHAT: Brooks Township Clean-up Day
WHEN: Saturday, June 6, from 8am – 2pm
WHERE: Brooks Township Hall parking lot
COST: Car load $5.00, pickup load: $10.00,
single axle trailer: $15.00 Double axle trailer: $20.00, dual wheel truck: $20.00,

Tires: see cost list below

WHAT WE WILL ACCEPT:
All old appliances**
Refrigerators
Roofing Materials
Auto parts & engines (with oil removed)
Lawn mowers
Lawn chairs
Electronics
Sheet metal**
Old bicycles**
Bed springs **& mattresses
Fencing or wood
Plastic & vinyl siding
Furniture

WHAT WE WILL NOT ACCEPT:
No car bodies or frames
No yard waste or brush
No gas tanks
No propane tanks
No sealed containers
No paint*
No hazardous materials*
No batteries*
No concrete
No compost
No household garbage

TIRES We will again be accepting tires at this years clean-up. A dumpster will be provided for tires only. There will be a minimum charge for each tire. The cost will cover what the township has to pay to have this service available. When loading your trash please place all tires on top of your load.
Lawn mower tires 0-12” --$.50, standard auto - 13-16”-$2.00, medium size tires —16.5— 19.5—$3.00, standard truck — 20-24.5” — $6.00, tractor—various sizes—$10.00, super size — various sizes—$25.00.

*Newaygo County will accept these items. Call 231-689-7225 (see inside newsletter for more information.)
**We will have dumpsters available to recycle scrap metal. To make unloading easier, put scrap metal at the bottom of your junk pile.
PROOF OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IN BROOKS TOWNSHIP IS REQUIRED
Please be prepared to unload your own items!
We are in need of volunteers. Lunch will be provided. If you would like to help please contact
Chris Haynor at 231-652-6763, ext. 130.

Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 9:55 am EDT
NEWAYGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ELECTION
The annual Newaygo Public Schools election will be held on May 5 at the Brooks Township hall. Polls open at 7 a.m and close at 8 p.m. Please remember to bring a photo ID with you. If you would like an absentee ballot please contact Jennifer Badgero, Clerk, at
652-6763, ext. 110.

Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 9:53 am EDT
In the April newsletter there was information to obtain a burn permit. One of the telephone numbers was listed incorrectly. The number should be 866-922-2876. The township apoligizes for any confusion. Also the 231-734-5492 number has been disconnected. If you visit the website www.michigandnr.com/burn permits you can view a map that will tell you if burning is allowed on that particular day. You do not have to leave any information.

Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 9:14 am EDT
ELECTION NEWS
The General Election will be held on November 4, 2008. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Please remember to bring a photo ID. Absentee ballots are available at the Township office. To receive an application and ballot please contact Jennifer Badgero at 231-652-6763, ext. 110.

Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 11:31 am EDT
NEWAYGO PUBLIC SCHOOL TAXES
TO BE COLLECTED IN SUMMER BEGINNING IN 2009
The Newaygo Board of Education has requested that Brooks Township collect their school taxes on the summer tax bill. This would include the 7 mills for the debt retirement and the 18 mills for non-homestead property. As many of you remember, the collection of school taxes in the summer from 1983-93 was well received by the community as it lightened the burden of the tax bill received in December. This all changed with the passage of Proposal A. The Brooks Township Board approved the schools request at their September board meeting.
Why did the School Board do this? The first State Aid payment is not until mid-October and school begins the first of September. This creates a cash flow problem (not enough cash on hand to pay for supplies or make payroll) therefore, the Board was forced to borrow money. This money is borrowed on the anticipation of State Aid payments and this loan is usually for about nine months.
The cost of borrowing is a considerable amount of money and most of it would be a savings to the district and most importantly create a positive cash flow. Looking at the borrowing cost for 2007-08, had there been a summer tax collection, the savings to the Board would have been approximately $25,360. Since the Board would not be borrowing money it would be receiving interest from the summer tax collection through investments. Being conservative on estimate, the Board could possibly earn $35,000 to $40,000 in interest annually. This would mean a net savings to the Board of approximately $60,000 to $65,000. This is basically a shift of taxes from the winter bill to the summer bill. There is no extra cost to the Township to do this. This collection will begin with the summer billing in 2009.
If you have any questions regarding this change please contact Christina Haynor, Brooks Township Treasurer, at 231-652-6763, ext. 130

Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 10:01 am EDT
WHAT: Brooks Township Clean-up Day
WHEN: Saturday, June 7, from 8am – 2pm (or until dumpsters are full)
WHERE: Brooks Township Hall parking lot
COST: Car load $5.00, pickup load: $10.00, single axle trailer: $15.00 Double axle trailer: $20.00, dual wheel truck: $20.00, Tires: see cost list below

What we will accept:
All old appliances**
Refrigerators
Roofing Materials
Auto parts & engines (with oil removed)
Lawn mowers
Lawn chairs
Electronics
Sheet metal**
Old bicycles**
Bed springs **& mattresses
Fencing or wood
Plastic & vinyl siding
Furniture

We will not accept:
No car bodies
No yard waste or brush
No gas tanks
No propane tanks
No sealed containers
No paint*
No hazardous materials*
No batteries*
No concrete
No compost
No household garbage

TIRES We will again be accepting tires at this years clean-up. A dumpster will be provided for tires only. There will be a minimum charge for each tire. The cost will cover what the township has to pay to have this service available. When loading your trash please place all tires on top of your load.

Lawn mower tires 0-12” --$.50, standard auto - 13-16”-$1.50, medium size tires —16.5— 19.5—$3.00, standard truck — 20-24.5” — $6.00, tractor—various sizes—$10.00, super size — various sizes—$15.00.

*Newaygo County will accept these items. Call 231-689-7225 (see inside newsletter for more information.)
**We will have dumpsters available to recycle scrap metal. To make unloading easier, put scrap metal at the bottom of your junk pile.

Posted By - Chris Haynor @ 11:39 am EDT
NEW INFORMATION FOR TOWNSHIP VOTERS

This is just a reminder that it is now required by the State of Michigan that a Photo ID be presented at the time of voting. The following are acceptable forms of identification.

Driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state
Federal or state government-issued photo identification
U.S. passport
Military identification with photo
Student identification with photo-from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education
Tribal identification card with photo

If you do not possess any of the above acceptable ID’s you will be asked to sign an affidavit
stating that you are not in possession of a photo ID and you will be able to vote.
If you have any questions regarding this new procedure you may call Jennifer Badgero, Clerk, at 231-652-6763, ext. 110.