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Ballot question

Houghton County: $28 million jail and building improvement bond

On the ballot in
Houghton County
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Shall the County of Houghton, Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Twenty Eight Million Dollars ($28,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, payable in not to exceed thirty (30) years from the date of issuance of each series, for the purpose of paying all or part of the costs to acquire, construct, furnish and equip new county jail facilities, and remodel, re-construct, renovate, furnish and equip existing county buildings, including interests in land, site improvements, and parking improvements, together with rights-of-way, appurtenances and attachments thereto, and demolition of existing buildings? If approved, the estimated millage to be levied in the first year of the levy in 2027 is 1.2726 mills ($1.2726 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 1.2722 mills ($1.2722 per $1,000 of taxable value).

A “Yes” vote means

A yes vote lets Houghton County borrow up to $28 million in bonds, repaid over up to 30 years, to build a new county jail and renovate existing county buildings.

A “No” vote means

A no vote rejects the bond; the county does not borrow the money.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.