A 2025 paving project on County Road 573 in the Norway area is shown in June. The Dickinson County Road Commission will seek renewal of a property tax levy of 0.5 mills, or 50 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, in August. (Dickinson County Road Commission photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County voters will be asked in August to renew a road millage that was first levied in 2012 and last put up for a vote in the March 2020 presidential primary.

The county board Monday approved ballot language for a Dickinson County Road Commission property tax levy of 0.5 mills, or 50 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, which would raise an estimated $587,037 when levied in 2027.

Jim Harris, Dickinson County Road Commission managing director, told the county board the millage has passed by wider margins each time it’s appeared on the ballot.

“We’re really proud of that,” he said. The 2020 results were 3,476 yes to 1,820 no.

The five-year renewal approved in 2020 didn’t take effect until 2022 but was placed on the ballot early because there were no county elections scheduled for 2021. This year’s renewal is also for five years and will be slated for the Aug. 4 primary election.

Funds from the county-wide millage are available as road commission matches for local road projects in the county’s seven townships. The portion generated from each of the county’s three cities is sent directly to the cities for their individual street needs.

Harris said he expects 2026 to be a flat year for state revenues received by the road commission, despite a state budget reflecting an increase in road funding. Improvements may not be seen until at least the second quarter of 2027, he speculated.

Also, a key component of the state funding boost is a new wholesale marijuana tax that took effect in January after bipartisan legislative approval late last year. The 24% tax was projected to generate more than $400 million a year statewide for road repairs.

That tax is now facing pushback, including an ongoing lawsuit from a cannabis industry association as well as a repeal effort.

“We really don’t know what our (state) funding will be,” Harris said.

The new funding for road agencies will be distributed on a delayed and uncertain schedule, according to Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a non-profit public affairs organization.

In another matter, Harris said weather conditions have made this “a real challenging year” for potholes, but he encouraged residents to contact the commission with concerns.

Commissioner Peter Swanson said he believes the road commission deserves support. “You guys do a great job,” he told Harris, noting improvements in road conditions can often be seen when crossing from other counties into Dickinson.

The road commission millage now in place is 0.4994 mills, a fractional reduction from 0.5 mills due to a Headlee Amendment rollback.

In other action, the county board:

— Approved for the Nov. 3 ballot a 10-year millage renewal proposal of 0.1 mills, or 10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value, to maintain a Dickinson County Department of Veterans Affairs. The levy would raise an estimated $117,430 when levied in 2027. The millage provides support and assistance to veterans residing in Dickinson County and has been in place since 2017. It was approved for 10 years in November 2016 by a vote of 7,202 yes to 4,710 no. The current levy is actually 0.0999 mills, a fractional reduction from 0.1 mills due to a Headlee Amendment roll back.

— During citizens’ time, heard Bob Simon of Norway Township criticize the county’s lack of support for a Michigan State University-Extension office in the county, saying it contributes to missed opportunities for economic development.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.