<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2TrcmY_0uyxkELE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TrcmY_0uyxkELE00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>A millage to fund the operations of the Benzie County Jail without an increase will go before voters on Nov. 5.&nbsp; (File photo/Record Patriot) </figcaption></figure> BEULAH — The <a href="https://www.benzieco.gov/government/board_of_commissioners/index.php" rel="nofollow"> Benzie County Board of Commissioners </a> voted in an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jDDQsMyUsc" rel="nofollow"> Aug. 13 meeting </a> to&nbsp;seek a renewal of the current jail&nbsp;millage,&nbsp;without an increase, on Nov. 5. The new millage request, approved unanimously, seeks 1.266 mills for three years to operate the Benzie County jail. <a href="https://www.recordpatriot.com/news/article/benzie-county-jail-millage-increase-rejected-19626286.php" rel="nofollow"> Benzie County voters rejected a renewal and increase on Aug. 6 </a> with&nbsp;3,078 no votes to 2,744 yes votes. The proposed millage was an increase of up to 1.4 mills for five years. The millage would have raised an estimated $2.4 million in the first year. The millage would have replaced the previous&nbsp;millage of 1.229, reduced by the Headlee Rollback Amendment, to cover costs of basic operations and hire at least one more corrections officer in order to meet state guidelines, <a href="https://www.recordpatriot.com/news/article/benzie-county-voters-decide-jail-funding-increase-18932788.php" rel="nofollow"> according to county officials in previous reports. </a> The need for more corrections officers <a href="https://www.recordpatriot.com/news/article/benzie-county-voters-decide-jail-funding-increase-18932788.php" rel="nofollow"> was reported in a study performed by Michigan Department of Corrections </a> agents in June 2023. According to the report, there should be a minimum of three corrections officers per shift. These numbers take into account design of the jail, duties of corrections officers and the number of inmates the jail can hold. "More taxes is not something they (the voters) want to dabble into to fund the jail operations is what it sounds like," said county administrator Katie Zeits. "That's why we're bringing forward a renewal in November. If we go for another increase, and it fails again, we're pigeonholed into having zero money for the jail." Even if the renewal passes, the county must cut $200,000 to $250,000 from the jail budget. <a href="https://cms1files.revize.com/benzienew/August%2013%202024%20Packet.pdf" rel="nofollow"> A memo in the packet for the board of commissioners </a> stated these cuts could come from not filling an open sergeant position or defunding positions that are not statutory. Changes in how positions such as maintenance are funded could also be part of the&nbsp;cuts. <blockquote> "It's a hard shave, but it's the hand we've been dealt,"&nbsp;Zeits said. </blockquote> Commissioners and Zeits stated how important it was for the voters to know it wasn't just the same millage being put back on the ballot. "We have to have get better messaging so people know we are not asking for an increase," said commissioner Art Jeannot. "We need to be very clear this is not&nbsp;an increase." Commissioner Karen Cunningham agreed. "This is going to look like we're just putting it out there again, and they've already told us," she said. "I know that's what people are going to say." Commissioners suggested it was up to county officials to let county residents know the changes in the millage request. </div></body>

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Benzie County seeks jail millage, budget needs $250,000 cut

\"More taxes is not something they (the voters) want to dabble into to fund the jail operations.\"

"More taxes is not something they (the voters) want to dabble into to fund the jail operations."