Millage supporting mental health in Washtenaw County passes for 2nd time

millage funding mental health support in Washtenaw County has been renewed with nearly 70% of the vote.

Washtenaw County voters renewed a millage funding the Community Mental Health Department, sheriff's office and other local agencies meant to support mental health concerns. The millage, which is expected to raise $22.5 million in its first year, passed with 69.21% of the vote, according to unofficial election results Wednesday morning. The proposal garnered 134,114 affirmative votes.

The millage will run from 2026 through 2033.

Read more: Results of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County

The renewal comes after officials made tweaks to how the funding can be used.

In June, the county commissioners passed an ordinance directing the sheriff's office to spend at least 30% of its funds on mental health and behavioral services, housing support, and community violence interruption. Each area must receive at least 10% of the funding provided to the sheriff's office.

Funding from the millage will be split, 38% to Community Mental Health and 38% to the sheriff's office, with the remaining 24% given as a rebate to cities and townships with their own police forces to spend as they wish. Municipalities with their own police include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township and Northfield Township, according to the millage text.

The ordinance also created a 16-member "public safety millage advisory committee," appointed by the county board, according to previous reporting.

The changes were prompted by a combination of public feedback and changing leadership, Annie Somerville, the Ypsilanti representative on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, previously said. Somerville is also the chair of the millage's advisory committee and serves on Community Mental Health's board.

Officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the millage's passing.

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