Road patrol millage on work session agenda

Commissioners to tackle putting issue on August ballot

Isabella County commissioners are expected today to discuss putting a road patrol millage on the August ballot — along with renewals of three others.

As Isabella County Sheriff’s employees and others continue to urge commissioners to ask voters to approve a millage to keep deputies on the road, they’re set to talk about potential ballot language at a work session that starts at 5 p.m. today at the Isabella County Commission on Aging.

Meanwhile, a group of sheriff’s employees who spoke at length about the issue at the last board of commissioners meeting, plan to do the same today.

Discussion on the issue and potential ballot language are the fourth item under administration and finance committee reports, followed by resolutions to approve ballot language for the renewals of 6.61 mills for county operations, which has not increased since the 1970s; .35 mills for parks and recreation; and .9929 for the Isabella County Transportation Commission.

Commissioners previously expressed concern about overwhelming voters with multiple millage requests but put the road patrol discussion on the agenda after hearing from several residents at the April 9 work session.

Without a dedicated road patrol millage, the county is considering cutting that service, which is not mandated by the state, as commissioners make cuts to the budget following the stinging failure of a proposal in the February election to add 2.5 mills for county operations.

As commissioners and County Administrator Nicole Frost work to balance the 2025 fiscal budget while facing a $6 million shortfall, two county elected officials have pointed the finger at former administrator Margaret Mcavoy, whom they said provided the board with incorrect financial projections that resulted in the shortfall.

Isabella County Treasurer Steve Pickens has said the former administrator, who retired in 2021, was not always truthful and made mistakes in financial estimations, while Isabella County Clerk Minde Lux has taken to so