TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse County Road Commissioners again will consider asking voters to fix roads through a property tax millage.
The board will begin discussing a possible road millage in a special meeting today at 7:30 p.m. at the commission office, 1881 LaFranier Road, Garfield Township. Officials have yet to suggest a millage amount or election date.
"We're just beginning the discussion, but I'd like us to predetermine what we will use the money for," said road Commissioner Marc McKellar. "I'd like to beef up winter maintenance and pick out the summer projects before it goes to the voters."
Voters convincingly turned down a 1-mill request to fix county primary and local roads in 2010, when 57.4 percent said no. But board Chairman Dave Taylor said it would have been closer if the board hadn't angered voters by giving out raises to administrative staff before the November vote.
"I don't know if people will support a millage ... but I don't know how we will fix our roads without one," Taylor said.
Road Commission Manager Mary Gillis said Gov. Rick Snyder has made several proposals to raise more money for roads, but that funding is limited to state highways and county primary roads. It wouldn't address the vast majority of local roads that serve residential areas, but a local millage could fund fixes to those routes.
