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Though the early primaries are causing confusion in some parts of the state and country, at the local level, County Clerk Laura Sexton doesn't anticipate any problems.

The Elk Rapids School District is looking to increase property taxes by two mills ($2 on each $1,000 of taxable value) to provide funding for operating costs. The proposal is attempting to restore millage lost as a result of the Headlee Amendment which disallows property taxes to increase faster than the rate of inflation. The schools face a rollback this year, and this millage is needed to override it and keep the funding per pupil the same.

If passed, the schools will collect an estimated $251,000 in the first year.

Voters in Star Township will also see two millage proposals on the ballot this January. One would see general ad valorem taxes increased by up to one mill for the next four years to fund road maintenance in the township. This millage would raise an estimated $43,600 in the first year.

The other proposal looks to increase funding for fire protection equipment, by levying a millage of .5 mill for four years. It would raise an estimated $21,800 the first year.

The Primary Race For registered Democrats, the selection for the primary is slim, with just four candidates on the ballot: Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel. Other candidates withdrew their names from the Michigan ballot because the early primary broke national party rules and the Democratic National Committee announced it would penalize those candidates who campaigned in this state.

Election officials are encouraging voters to select uncommitted rather than write-in one of the candidates that isn't on the ballot. None of the candidates plan to register as write-ins. If fifteen percent vote uncommitted, than uncommitted delegates will go to the national convention and have the opportunity to vote for whoever they choose.

Though Republican candidates were faced with similar penalties, the list on the ballot is much longer: Ron Paul Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain and Sam Brownback.

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson @michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.