FAQ
Q: What is on the ballot?
Saginaw County voters are being asked to approve 1 mill to support sheriff’s services. These funds would keep the sheriff’s departments at its current level.
Q: How much will it cost me?
The average Saginaw County homeowner (market value $85,000) would pay around $42 per year.
Q: Is the Sheriff’s department busy?
Yes. Last year, deputies responded to nearly 14,000 calls for service. Detectives investigated more than 1,500 crimes, and more than 10,800 inmates were booked in the Saginaw County jail.
Q: Don’t I already pay a millage for the sheriff’s department?
Yes, since 1989 Saginaw County residents have approved proposals to support sheriff’s road patrol services. The latest renewal of 0.34 mills runs through 2016 and will continue to fund approximately 14 positions, but it was intended to augment – not fully fund – road patrol services.
Q: Saginaw County has lost population. Has the government downsized?
Yes, more than 100 county government jobs have been cut over the past 10 years, and another 15 positions will be eliminated May 1, regardless of the election outcome.
Q: What does my local police department think of this?
The Saginaw County Police Chiefs Association has endorsed the proposal.
Q: Are elected officials sharing in cuts to balance the budget?
Yes, county commissioners have eliminated their fringe benefits. They and other elected officials (prosecutor, judges, clerk, etc.) who last saw a raise in 2007 have agreed to a recommended wage freeze through 2014.
Q: What does the business community think about this proposal?
The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the millage proposal, saying that strong public safety is essential to provide the quality of life that brings business.
Q: Why do I have to pay more just to maintain the current level of service?
Property values have fallen and state revenue sharing has been cut, meaning the county has less revenue. At the same time, federal and state requirements for the care of inmates have caused jail expenses to increase. Many citizens have said public safety is a priority. This election gives them an opportunity to express that at the ballot box.
