Residents in Muskegon Township voted against a new public safety millage.
The proposal was for an increased 10-year millage of 5.25 mills, doubling the current millage. The current public safety millage of 2.6802 mills has been in place for the past 15 years but is set to expire this year.
The proposal failed with 47% voting in favor of the new millage, and 52% voting against it.
Public safety officials would have raised $2.7 million in the first year, had the millage been approved. Officials hoped to use that money to hire three more firefighters and upgrade two fire stations, as well as cover other staffing shortages and higher equipment costs.
Residents also voted against a millage that would have funded improvements for the Muskegon County Lakeshore Museum Center, with 54% voting against the proposal.
The request for 0.31 mills over the next 20 years would have doubled the size of the museum’s collection space, which is almost full, as well as make the museum more ADA compliant.
The current millage of 0.3 mills has never been increased and is approved for 10-year increments. It also gives Muskegon County residents and school districts free admission to the museum.
