The Berrien County Board of Commissioners has voted to place three millage renewals on the August ballot.
At a meeting this week, the board moved forward with renewals of the senior center millage, the 911 millage, and the public safety millage. They’re seeking renewals only, and not increases. However, when it comes to the 911 and public safety millages, increases may be needed in the coming years.
Commissioner Julie Wuerfel said this month that for now, it was thought prudent to only ask for renewals of those two millages at the current rates for six years.
“The reason for the discussion in a couple of years, potentially for the increase, is because hopefully the economy will change by then,” Wuerfel said. “But we don’t know that. So, in a couple of years, we may not be able to go for an increase either.”
The public safety millage is for 0.3496 mills, and it’s expected to generate about $3.6 million for the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department per year.
The 911 millage is 0.4495 mills, generating about $4.6 million for 911 operations.
The senior center millage, for which commissioners are only seeking a four-year renewal, is 0.2997 mills, generating about $3 million for the county’s seven senior centers.
The election will be August 6.
