News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Pictured is an Alcona County Sheriff’s Office Deputy in the Alcona County courtroom.

HARRISVILLE — The Alcona County Sheriff’s Office is seeking approval from voters during the Aug. 4 primary election on a new 1.5 mill, six-year tax levy to fund law enforcement operations.

A 1.5 mill levy means that the owners of property with a taxable value of $50,000 will see their property tax bill climb by about $75 annually. The levy is expected to bring in a revenue of approximately $1.5 million per year. It will be a new tax levy for Alcona County residents and not a renewal.

Alcona County Sheriff Scott Stephenson said that the millage will be used to bring the sheriff’s office to full staff. He said he has been operating with a staff of 10 to 11 deputies the past few years. Ideally, he would like to have 14 deputies.

“Generally speaking, the cost of law enforcement is so expensive and property tax revenue has not kept up with that,” Stephenson said.

The sheriff’s office is currently funded through Alcona County’s general fund.

Stephenson said that developments in technology have also caused more expense for law enforcement. When he first entered law enforcement 30 years ago, there were no body cams, dashboard cams, tasers, or encrypted radios. Additionally, when he first became Alcona County Sheriff in 2019, a new patrol vehicle cost about $24,000. Now a new vehicle costs about $54,000.

Stephenson said that Alcona County has the third or fourth lowest property tax rates in the state.

“The reason we do have low tax rates is that we don’t have that millage,” he said. “It would get us caught up with what others are paying for property taxes.”

He said that many other counties across Michigan have law enforcement millages, including neighboring Oscoda County, who has one to help purchase law enforcement equipment.

Stephenson said that plans for what’s next if the millage doesn’t pass have not been discussed yet.

“Our plan is to pass it the first time around and start making our improvements on day one,” Stephenson said.

The ballot language for the law enforcement millage reads as follows:

“Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on all taxable property in the County of Alcona, Michigan be increased by 1.5 mills ($1.50 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) of the taxable value for a period of six (6) years, 2026 through 2032 inclusive, for the purpose of funding the Alcona County Law Enforcement Operations, including but not limited to, supporting the necessary operational activities of county law enforcement, criminal justice and emergency response for the citizens of Alcona County?

The estimate of revenue the county will collect if the new millage is approved and levied in the first year is $1,572,913.28.”