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Eaton County moves juvenile‑justice and 911 millage questions to ballot to avoid off‑year election costs
Summary
The Ways & Means Committee voted to place renewals/restorations of the juvenile‑justice and 911 millages on the ballot this year to avoid expensive off‑year elections. County staff presented household impact estimates and said the levies fund youth services, central dispatch and public safety communications.
Eaton County’s Ways & Means Committee voted April 15 to place two millage questions — a juvenile‑justice renew & restore and a 911 renew & restore — on this year’s ballot to avoid the added cost of a special off‑year election. County staff said running the questions this year saves an estimated $160,000 compared with a special election and allows the county to begin public education earlier.
On the juvenile millage, staff said the levy supports the county youth facility and program services — about $1.7 million of the county budget — and includes matching state funds (roughly 75 percent of eligible costs). Using the current median home sale price estimate for Eaton County ($230,000), staff calculated the revived total levy would amount to about $40.25 in 2029 and restoring the millage as proposed would add about $0.17 per $1,000 of taxable value (about 17 cents a year under the stated assumptions).
For 911, staff described central dispatch and emergency‑telephone functions that serve every Eaton County jurisdiction and estimated the 2029 total levy at $109.25 for a $230,000 home with the restoration factor adding roughly 16 cents per $1,000. County leaders said losing the countywide millage would push dispatch costs to individual municipalities or lead to service reductions.
Both ballot placements were approved by committee vote. County officials said they will run public education and provide an online calculator so residents can check the estimated impact for their property values.
What’s next: placement of the questions on the ballot triggers public outreach and voter materials; staff will provide a tax‑impact calculator and campaign‑style informational materials explaining services funded by the levies.
