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OTSEGO COUNTY JUSTICE COMPLEX MILLAGE PROPOSAL FACTS VOTE TUESDAY MAY 4 2021 WHAT IS THIS? On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, Otsego County voters will be asked to consider a 20-year, 1.95 mill levy to fund a complex that will house a 120-bed jail, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department, road patrol, prosecuting attorney, all court functions, probation and parole, and the sheriff’s work camp all under one roof. HOW WILL THESE FUNDS BE USED? The proposed 1.95 mills will raise funds to construct, furnish, equip, and operate the Otsego County Justice Complex. Otsego County has five millages that have recently expired or been reduced. These tax reductions total 3.73 mills, reducing the impact on our citizens’ overall tax rate.* *All facts contained in this flyer may be found at the Otsego County Website www.otsegocountymi.gov WHY BUILD A NEW BUILDING? • Numerous studies indicate the need for a new complex. • MSP study concludes that housing the current courts in two different buildings poses a security risk. Most court functions are located at the Alpine Center (near Gaylord High School), an 83-year-old building that will require significant repairs within the next 3-5 years. • Having the criminal justice system under one roof will reduce security risks and operational costs. It will eliminate the need to repair the Alpine Center. • Building a Justice Complex is over 20% cheaper than the cost of building only a new jail and renovating existing buildings. WHY DO WE NEED THIS NOW? • Otsego County’s 34-bed facility is not adequate for our growing community. Currently, there are 1,100 outstanding warrants that cannot be addressed because there is no space in our jail. • The Otsego County jail is almost three times smaller than the average jail in Michigan, and is 97% smaller than all other jails in Michigan per capita. • Alternative programs such as the Work Camp are operating at maximum capacity. • Over $4 million in unpaid child support is owed to single parents in Otsego County. We do not have the ability to impose consequences for non-payment due to lack of space in our jail. • S.A.N.E. (regional drug task force agency) statistics show that drug crimes in Otsego County have risen steadily, and now the majority of the drug crimes in their Northern Michigan region originate in Otsego County, placing pressure on an already undersized jail capacity. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS Visit otsegocountymi.gov Or contact Rachel Frisch Otsego County Administrator [EMAIL REDACTED] Paid for by Otsego County, 225 W. Main, Gaylord, MI 49735 • [PHONE REDACTED] FACT: CRIMINALS ARE DETAINED, BOOKED, AND RELEASED BACK ONTO OUR STREETS BECAUSE OF JAIL OVERCROWDING. MILLAGE REDUCTIONS WITHIN OTSEGO COUNTY WILL MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON OUR CITIZENS’ OVERALL TAX RATE PUBLIC SAFETY + FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY