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Schoolcraft County transit millage called confusing

MANISTIQUE — Schoolcraft County voters will find quite an array of proposals on the November ballot and one may be particularly confusing. The Schoolcraft County Transit Authority (SCTA) is asking voters to renew the millage they overwhelmingly supported four years ago.

However, the proposal wording requests that the authority “be authorized to levy a new additional millage in the amount not to exceed .587 mil.”

“The problem is it’s not a new millage. We are simply asking voters to continue supporting our six-day-a-week operation at exactly the same rate as they have for the past few years. And voter support is critical. State and federal funding provide only 56 percent of our funding. Without local support, we would never be able to provide the service that area residents have come to expect and appreciate, “ said John Stapleton, SCTA executive director.

He explained that transit was a Schoolcraft County department the last time the proposal was on the ballot in 2013. Two years ago the county board voted to create the free-standing authority. It became a new entity.

“As a result, since Michigan law requires our request be worded as new, the proposal on the ballot looks like this is new request. It isn’t. There will be absolutely no change in the amount property owners will pay for Transit on their tax bills,” Stapleton said.

The director commented on the value Schoolcraft County residents receive from the SCTA. “We provided 55,000 rides last year from one end of the county to the other. We run six days a week and late night on Friday and Saturday night. We just introduced our new route between Manistique and Escanaba with three trips a day Monday through Friday. It’s great for Bay College students, dialysis patients, and for doctor, dentist, testing or other professional appointments. We even offer door-to-door package delivery for everything from dry cleaning to shagging parts.”

He noted that a customer satisfaction survey done about a year or so ago revealed that riders were very satisfied with the transit service.

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