EDITOR:

I know my Baby Boomers remember Joe Friday from “Dragnet” saying, “Just the facts.” Well, these are the facts dealing with the renewal millage for Bay College Iron Mountain campus, which will be on the ballot Aug. 5.

— Renewal millage — this is a renewal of a millage that has been in place since 2005.

The information below is from 2022-23 Lightcast Data:

— 81% of the enrollment represents the students who came to Bay College Iron Mountain campus from Dickinson County.

— $4 million income added to the local economy through the jobs of thousands of Bay alumni now working in Dickinson County.

— $582,300 added income to Dickinson County economy by students spending on groceries, mortgage, rent and other living expenses.

— In 2022-23, Bay College Iron Mountain added $6.5 million in income to the county economy, a value equal to 0.4% of the county’s total GRP, or gross regional product.

It was reported on June 26 in this paper of a signing of the U.P. Articulation Agreement with Bay to award advance college credit to registered apprentices in the union construction trades. It would be a terrible shame to our community if the millage does not pass, as this may have a negative impact on this new program.

The renewal of the millage will increase our local economy and bring in new industry, thus making our community grow and prosper. Isn’t this well worth the renewal of this millage?

Vote Yes on Aug. 5.