Iosco County will be asking voters on May 2 to vote on a 1% millage increase to fund general operating costs for the county.
The millage would increase the funding allocated to county workers, help maintain the jail and grounds and various other county-level services.
But the county has failed to pass the millage the last three times it appeared on ballots.
Iosco County’s Controller and Finance Director Jamie Soboleski told WCMU the county is struggling to keep up with inflation and retain county employees.
"We're up against major inflation," said Soboleski. "We're struggling to be able to keep up with the wage rates in the area."
Iosco has the fourth lowest millage rate in the state and that’s meant funding for projects like fixing the county building just hasn’t been there.
"If you were to walk through our building, on a rainy day, there's buckets in our hallways, because our roof is leaking so bad," said Soboleski.
Soboleski said money from the American Rescue Plan has been helpful, but she mentioned nearly everything in the county building is failing at this point and it will take more than a one-time influx of cash to fix the problems.
If the millage increase is approved by voters, it will take effect in 2024.
