BEULAH — Area transit officials suspect the high price of gasoline helped their millage elections cruise to easy victory despite a down economy.
Benzie County voters renewed a 0.5-mill levy to fund the Benzie Bus system 2,371 to 804. The five-year millage will raise $540,000 in property taxes its first year.
"Those election numbers are amazing," said Susan Miller, executive director of the Benzie Bus. "It tells me the people of Benzie County realize in a down economy people really need us.
"The high gas prices make it a lot tougher on people and if we can give them an economical way to get to work or the doctor or grocery store that's great," she said.
Kalkaska County residents voted 607 to 231 to continue a 0.25-mill levy for the county's public transit authority. The five-year millage will raise $164,438 in 2011.
"The economy plays a fact that maybe transit is needed more, especially with the cost of gas," said transit Coordinator Ron Kea. "I live 18 miles from town so it would be foolish for me not to ride the bus."
Kalkaska County's on-demand public transit system has operated for 25 years and Kea said he was pleased by the public support.
"I hope it says a lot about the job that's being done by the transit in Kalkaska," he said.
Tuesday's election marked the first millage renewal for the 5-year-old Benzie Bus system and Miller said she was anxious to see how the vote would turn out. Benzie offers on-demand service, express routes, and trips to Traverse City and Munson Medical Center with its 19 buses.
"It was good to get the confidence from our community and to know they are pleased with the work we are doing," Miller said.
Region
Benzie, Kalkaska renew bus millages
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Two top Benzie County officials learned they may soon lose their jobs.
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East Jordan teenager charged with resisting, kicking
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Union St. downtown closed for maintenance
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Continued ... - Wednesday, June 19, 2013
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Grand Traverse officials to discuss Twin Lakes safety
![tcr DrowningMeeting01-20130619kk05.jpg [Duplicate]](http://d6673sr63mbv7.cloudfront.net/archive/x2113332759/g04803c000000000000dad2faa14f71dd0fbc25b022487d4c9ca001fe2a.jpg "tcr DrowningMeeting01-20130619kk05.jpg [Duplicate]")
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Felon wants a firearm
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Cass Road crossing will develop with dam removals
It's time to stop talking and start replacing Cass Road Bridge, county officials said.
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Controversial anthropologist calls area home
Since 1999, one of America’s most famous and controversial anthropologists has lived quietly in a home set far off a wooded road with his wife and a hunting dog named Darwin.
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Tension boils over Benzie undersheriff position
Benzie County remains undersheriff-less as county commissioners and sheriff’s department leaders continue a six-month-long battle over pay and benefits that spurred talk of inter-government lawsuits.
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Kalkaska man gets 100 years for sex crimes
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Old Mission named among top coastal drives
Old Mission Peninsula claimed a spot on USA Today’s recent list of 10 coastal drives.
Continued ... - Tuesday, June 18, 2013
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Man could face 7th domestic violence conviction
A Traverse City man with six prior domestic violence convictions is due back in court on the same charge.
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DDA chief nurtured downtown TC growth
Bryan Crough loved to listen to people talk about downtown Traverse City and how it has become a hot spot for the arts, dining and commerce.
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Officials to meet on Cass, Hartman-Hammond river crossings
The Cass Road Bridge will be replaced after all.
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Clearing the Record: 06/18/2013
Because of a reporter’s error, the creator of the six dogmen costumes for the “Dogman 2: Wrath of the Litter” movie was misidentified in Saturday’s Record-Eagle.
Continued ... - Monday, June 17, 2013
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BATA plan: Load more bikes on buses
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Goodwill to develop food truck
An area nonprofit will rely on more than $20,000 in taxpayer-funded grants to begin operating a food truck that accepts Bridge Cards.
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Downtown leader passes away
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Light & Power board balks at price of proposal
Traverse City Light & Power board members balked at a $60,000-plus, no-bid proposal to plot the city-owned utility’s future.
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Empire event to celebrate beloved soundman
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'Thunder' to roll to honor vets
Members of Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 1 invite the public to polish their chrome and join them as they hit the highway for their fourth annual Pure Thunder-escorted veterans memorial ride.
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Northern Notes: Just Mulch gets thank-you
Debra Norman, principal at Lake Ann Elementary School, wrote to thank Scott and Deb Talquist from Just Mulch for providing the school with the equipment and manpower to keep its pond and waterfall operating.
Continued ... - Sunday, June 16, 2013
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TBAISD to hold budget hearing
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'Family is our whole life': Raising quadruplets plus two
Since her quadruplets grew out of diapers, life smoothed out for Tonya Lewandowski.
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