Jackson County Jail operation millage fails for third time, by 973 votes

JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Police services for Jackson County are in budgetary peril after a third attempt to pass a millage, just enough to keep operations going at the jail and sheriff's office, failed again.

It was a tight race. The millage failed by 973 votes with 36,978 saying yes and 37,951 saying no, according to unofficial election results yet to be certified.

The county was asking voters to approve a tax of 0.25 mills to be levied on properties for 10 years to fund public safety services, including county jail and other sheriff's operations. It was called a jail services millage.

"The city's known about it for years - why should take our tax money and help fix a jail that's just going to fall down?" said John Babchook, 37, who voted against the millage.

One mill is equal to $1 paid in property tax per every $1,000 of a property's taxable value, roughly half of market value. As an example, a Jackson County resident who owns a $200,000 home would have paid about $25 a year for the millage.

Had it passed it was expected to raise about $1,516,970 per year.

"I agree that the jail is super old. It could use some work - some people drive past and think 'Oh, the jail's pretty old and needs a bit of work,' so I think putting a little bit of money aside for the county and prison? I'm fine with that," said Jamus Ryan, 18, who voted in favor of the millage.

Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schuette previously told MLive/ The Jackson Citizen Patriot that if the millage failed to pass this third time, his office would lose $1.2 million in revenue, and he would likely have to make major cuts to his budget.

Related: If voters again reject jail operations millage, sheriff says he will have to cut $1M

The sheriff's office could close the Chanter Road jail facility in Blackman Township, eliminate night patrol, laying off deputies or ending patrol services for parts of Jackson County that do not already have a signed agreement with the sheriff's office.

Schuette was not immediately available for comment early Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Voters in 2002 approved a 20-year public safety tax of 0.5 mills to fund police services and construct the Chanter Road jail facility, which houses lower-security male inmates. That millage, however, expired in 2022. Instead of requesting voters renew the millage, the county sought a higher 1-mill tax, but it failed in November 2022, 35,923 to 25,018.

In the August election, the county requested a 0.9-mill levy, but that too failed, with voters split at 12,049 for and 12,886 against – a difference of just 836 votes.

With the failure of the latest millage, the sheriff's office must operate on a substantially lower budget while continuing to maintain and operate the aging downtown jail at 212 W. Wesley St. Schuette said his department is looking at a $1.2 to $1.5 million deficit.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office began using the Wesley Street Jail in 1953. Additions were made in 1978 and 2002.

Schutte sought the 2022 millage after touring the downtown jail. He said he was shocked and appalled by its condition.

The 2022 millage would have upgraded and repaired the downtown facility.

Had the August millage passed, the Chanter Road facility would have become the jail for all county inmates and the hub for all patrol operations while the Wesley Street jail would have been "mothballed" and remained in place to serve as the sheriff's administrative office, Schuette previously said.

The downtown jail can house 185 inmates. The Chanter Road facility can hold 252 male inmates in an open, dorm-style layout.

Total voter turnout was at 65% during the Nov. 5 election in Jackson County.

Read more Jackson-area election stories.

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