Just Fix the Roads

How much revenue will the millage generate?

If passed, this 0.5 mill millage would be assessed on your winter property tax bill in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. The amount owed will depend on the taxable value of your home.

For example, if the taxable value of your home is $100,000, a 0.5 mill will cost approximately $50 per year.

How would the revenue generated by the millage be divided?

Millage dollars are raised locally and stay in Washtenaw County.

Just like the 2021- 2024 millage, all revenue generated by the millage stays in Washtenaw County. If renewed and restored, the 0.5 mill is expected to generate approximately $10.9 million per year for roads and non-motorized pathway projects.

• Washtenaw County Road Commission would receive approximately $4.9 million per year for road work in 20 townships, Cities would receive approximately $3.8 million per year, with specific allocations based on the amount raised within cities borders.
• Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission would receive approximately $2.2 million per year to support the expansion of the county non-motorized path network through the Border-to-Border Trail Project (B2B Trail) and the Connecting Communities Grant Program.

Which roads will be repaired and when?

WCRC has partnered with local cities and villages to create a four-year road improvement plan that outlines which projects will be completed each year the millage is levied. Click here for a project map.

Millage revenues will be used to improve roads across the county through a variety of treatments, including reconstruction, paved and unpaved road resurfacing, and seal coat (chip seal). Projects have been selected based on the expected needs of the road system based on asset management best practices.

How will the non-motorized funds be spent?

The Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission receives 20% of the revenue generated by the millage (approximately $2.2 million per year). This money is divided annually between investments in the Border to Border (B2B) trail system ($1.4M) and funding for the Connecting Communities Grant Program ($600k).

The B2B Trail is a non-motorized pathway that connects cities, parks, and many destinations throughout Washtenaw County. Within the county, 45 miles are nearly complete, and 9 more miles are planned. Millage funds for the B2B Trail go directly to construction and so far, have been used to leverage more than $20 million in Federal/State grant funding and private donations.

The Connecting Communities Grant Program provides supplemental funding to assist municipalities with the development of locally important non-motorized projects. Millage funds are used to help with a variety of project expenses, with an emphasis on construction and engineering costs.

Click here for the list of proposed non-motorized projects.

The State Legislature approved a road funding package in 2015. Why isn’t the state’s package enough to fix Washtenaw County’s roads?

Approximately 41% of Washtenaw County’s paved, primary road system is rated in poor condition. The deterioration of the road system is directly related to years of inadequate funding. State funding represents a majority of the revenue used for local road improvements. Between 1997 and 2015, there were no increases in state road funding; revenue failed to keep pace with inflation and accommodate for the reduction in gas tax revenue due to cars’ increased fuel efficiency.

In November 2015, state lawmakers approved a package that will increase road funding to $1.2 billion per year. Unfortunately, road agencies did not receive the full amount of funding until 2021 and half the funding outlined in the package is not guaranteed. Washtenaw County’s millage will help fill the funding gap while awaiting the full phase-in of new funding. Additionally, the millage will provide the county with a funding mechanism to continue improving county roads if state lawmakers do not fully actualize the road package.

What will remain undone after the millage concludes in 2028?

While the millage fund approximately 165 miles of needed road improvements, there will still be significant work to do to bring Washtenaw County’s road system into good condition. The County has nearly 600 miles of primary roads, plus another 1,100 miles of public local roads. Significant sections of this system remain in sub-standard condition and require costly reconstruction projects.

How has Washtenaw County used road millages in the past?

Prior to the approval of the four-year road and non-motorized path millage, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners used Public Act 283 (P.A. 283) to impose a similar, one-year 0.5 road millage in 2015 and 2016. P.A. 238 funded nearly 140 miles of road improvements throughout the county.

What is the ballot language?

On May 15, 2024, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved the following ballot language that will appear on the August 6, 2024 ballot:

“Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the County of Washtenaw be increased by 0.500 mill ($0.50 per thousand dollars of taxable value) of the taxable value for a period of four (4) years, 2024 to 2027, inclusive, as a renewal of that portion of a 0.5000 mill authorization previously approved by electors in 2020 as reduced by operation of the Headlee amendment, which was 0.005 mill in 2023, plus new additional millage representing a restoration of the amount equal to the amount reduced by operation of the Headlee amendment, which was 0.005 mill in 2023, to provide funding to the Washtenaw County Road Commission, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and the various cities, villages, and townships of Washtenaw County to maintain, construct, resurface, reconstruct or preserve roads, bike lanes, streets and paths in Washtenaw County? If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $10,986,947 when first levied in 2024.”

What is Just Fix The Roads Washtenaw County (JFTR)?

A ballot question committee to support approval of the ballot proposal. Properly registered with the County of Washtenaw under Michigan statutes and rules. Committee ID# B-2016-004.