BENZONIA — Benzie County voters agreed this week to spend more than $8 million on local road improvements over the next five years.
County voters approved the road commission’s 1-mill, five-year road improvement request in Tuesday’s election, 3,213 to 1,010, with the levy to run starting next year through 2028.
The approval rate was similar to the results of the August 2018 election, and voters approved a similar measure in 2013.
“We definitely appreciate the support,” Road Commission Manager Troy Hinds said. “We’re going to continue doing what we’re doing and trying to make headway.”
Based on the county’s current taxable value of more than $1.64 billion, the levy will raise nearly $1.643 million in its first year and is projected to raise more than $8 million for road work over the span of the 5-year levy. The voter renewal will also return the levy to a full mill next year, which had been rolled back slightly by the state’s Headlee Amendment over the past four years.
Road Commission officials plan to upgrade seven roads next year covering nearly 13 miles costing slightly more than $1 million, with six roads on the 2025 schedule, another 20 miles in 2026, 24 miles in 2027 and 16 miles on the 2028 list. Specific road projects are listed on the Road Commission website.
County officials try to split the road funds equally between the county’s 180-mile primary road network and the 446-mile local road system. They select the primary roads while local road work is determined by a committee that includes township supervisors from around Benzie County. Hinds said it’s a system that’s work well for the agency.
“As far as where the money is spent, the local road committee determines where the money goes,” he said. “We try to be as transparent as we can be.”
Other Benzie County election results included:
Frankfort voters solidly approved a fire protection and first responders millage, 345 to 62, to renew the current fire levy of 1.4 mills and provide for an increase of up to 2.5 mills for five years. It will raise close to $300,000 in its first year. Dale Charters and Brady Olsen were elected to unopposed terms on the Frankfort City Council.Inland Township voters approved a 2-mill five-year renewal of a fire department operating levy by a vote of 323 to 210; and a 1-mill, three-year levy for fire department equipment purchases. That proposal passed by a vote of 333 to 206. Inland Township Clerk Rose Wirth also defeated challenger Lindsey Miller, 273 to 252.Beulah voters narrowly rejected a proposal to restore the village’s operating millage to 12.5 mills from the present rate of 7.8864 mills that’s been rolled back over the years by the state’s Headlee Amendment. The measure – defeated by 65 to 60 – would have raised close to $202,000 annually. Much of the revenue would have been used for improvements to the village’s wastewater treatment system.