EMS, jails, cannabis and more: How Michigan voted on local ballot issues

Michigan voters generally supported efforts to fund public safety, libraries, roads and parks.
Eight communities rejected efforts to fund EMS, which could also impact fire and police services
Retail cannabis is expanding in six communities

Michigan voters overwhelmingly supported keeping their local emergency services funded this November general election.

There were about 124 public safety millage questions on the ballot for various communities in the state, according to Gongwer News Service. Of that, only 14 failed to win support for fire departments, law enforcement or emergency medical services.

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Some 40 public safety millage proposals called for increasing local taxes for EMS as some communities struggle to keep ambulance services funded. Eight communities — Onekama Township, Cooper Township, Stronach Township, Clarkston, Secord Township, Gibraltar and Norvell Township — struck down those proposals.

The decisions could also jeopardize fire and police funding in communities that combine those operations under one roof.

Related:

I voted stickers on a table — An assortment of “I Voted” stickers. (Brayan Gutierrez for Bridge Michigan)

Kent County rejected a 20-year jail millage, and Houghton County similarly passed on a $28 million public safety bond to build new jail facilities.

Five cities passed proposals to create citizen-led healthcare advisory committees to draft policy recommendations. Lansing, East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Portage, and Benton Harbor approved the measures launched by the nonprofit City Action Michigan, an organization linked to unseating vulnerable Republicans in Congress.

Other proposals to expand or maintain health-related services received mixed results.

Senior services stand to receive renewed funding in all communities where it was on the ballot. A millage renewal to fund a rural health center on Lake Michigan’s Beaver Island secured funding, while an Ogemaw County proposal to fund trauma therapy for families who have experienced abuse failed to pass.

Corunna in Shiawassee County rejected efforts to adopt gender-neutral terminology within its charter.

Growing cannabis support

Marijuana businesses will be able to expand after voters decided to repeal prohibitions and authorize new establishments in six communities.

Bad Axe, Menominee and Big Prairie Township passed measures to drop retail cannabis bans as Boyne Falls and Mottville Township voted down prohibitions on the industry.

Near the Indiana-Michigan border, Niles Township failed to lift its cannabis ban, while the neighboring city of Niles capped its marijuana retailers at five and microbusinesses at four.

Parks, libraries, roads and museums

Library funding passed in most of the 20 communities where it was on the ballot, save for Geneva Township, Redding Township and Oscoda County.

Parks and recreation millages similarly got approved in 19 communities, while efforts in Commerce Township, Byron Township, Durand, Miles Township, Owosso and Muskegon were voted down.

Of the state’s 76 road millage and public works bond proposals, 22 failed to pass.

Museums and zoos also had a good day — Oakland and Wayne counties approved public funding for the Detroit Historical Society and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Voters also passed millages for the Detroit Zoo, the John Ball Zoo and Grand Rapids Public Museum.