.png)
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Board of Commissioners is expected to consider approval of the county’s 2027 budget and more than $883,000 in senior millage funding allocations during its regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the conference room of the Mason County Airport Terminal, 5300 W. US 10.
The proposed 2027 county general fund budget totals approximately $18.4 million, compared to the amended 2026 budget of approximately $17.7 million.
The proposed budget includes approximately $9.8 million in departmental expenditures, compared to $9.44 million in the amended 2026 budget.
Among the major proposed expenditures are approximately $2.92 million for Mason County Sheriff’s Office road patrol and $2.22 million for Mason County Jail operations.
The proposed budget has been reviewed by the county’s Finance, Personnel and Rules Committee, which is recommending adoption of a balanced budget.
Commissioners are also expected to consider the distribution of $883,317.14 from the county’s senior millage fund for 2027.
The proposed allocations include $338,530 for the Scottville Area Senior Center, $248,855.44 for the Ludington Senior Center, $55,000 for the Free Soil Area Senior Center and $48,606.70 for the Tallman Lake Senior Center.
Additional proposed funding includes $75,000 for the Mason County Central Senior Home Delivered Meal Program and $117,325 for Mason County Senior Services.
The original funding requests totaled $1,003,922, approximately $120,605 more than the recommended allocations.
The county anticipates approximately $866,824 in senior millage revenue and other income in 2027. The proposed allocations would require an additional $16,493 from the senior millage fund balance.
Two organizations that requested funding, Disability Network West Michigan and Blue Hat Ministries, are not included in the recommended allocations.
The board is also scheduled to conduct a public hearing concerning the 2026 budget and property taxes under Michigan’s Truth in Taxation law. Commissioners will consider acceptance of the county’s 2026 Apportionment Report, which establishes millage rates and estimated tax collections for taxing jurisdictions throughout Mason County.
Other items on the agenda include a proposed three-year extension of the county’s courthouse security contract, approval of state grants, budget amendments and a resolution honoring Sheriff Kim C. Cole.
The meeting is open to the public.
_________________________
Please Support Local News Coverage
For generations, local newspapers were supported by subscriptions. Today, while Mason County Press and Oceana County Press remain free to everyone, the cost of producing quality local journalism continues to rise.
If you value independent local news coverage, we invite you to help sustain it by subscribing to the MCP/OCP Daily Briefing for $12 a month — about 40 cents a day — or $120 a year.
Your subscription helps support the reporters, photographers and editors who cover local government, schools, community events, sports, breaking news and the stories that matter most to Mason and Oceana counties. In return, you’ll receive the MCP/OCP Daily Briefing each morning with the day’s headlines, along with occasional breaking news and special email editions.
Monthly subscriptions are available for $12 per month.
Click here to subscribe monthly.
Annual subscriptions are available for $120 per year.
Click here to subscribe annually.
If you prefer to pay by check, mail your $120 annual payment to:
Media Group 31, LLC
P.O. Box 21
Scottville, MI 49454
Please include your name, mailing address, email address and telephone number so we can activate your subscription.
Subscription payments must be received before service is activated.
Whether you choose to subscribe or continue enjoying our free content, thank you for reading Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. Your readership—and your support—helps ensure that independent local journalism remains available to everyone in our communities.
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2026 by Media Group 31, LLC, P.O. Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. All rights reserved. No portion of this story or its images may be reproduced in any form, including print, broadcast or electronic media, without the express written permission of Media Group 31, LLC.
As a news organization, Media Group 31 maintains published content as part of the public and historical record. Accordingly, stories are not removed after publication. At the editor’s discretion, stories may be updated or corrected as new information becomes available. Updates may be made by revising the original story or by publishing a follow-up story. Media Group 31, LLC reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. Please refer to our Use Policy for additional information.
.jpg)
