"It's $42 a year, less than $1 a week to maintain law enforcement the way it is," said Saginaw County Undersheriff Bob Karl.
That's one of the talking points the Saginaw County Sheriff's Department will share with voters. It makes sense to Thomas Township resident Jack Campbell.
"That's a McDonald's hamburger," he said. "Not bad, if you look at it that way."
Campbell is a big public safety supporter since his son was murdered in Saginaw several years ago.
"We need the millage," he said. "There's no two ways about it for protection. Crime has come down. We have some control over it. We can't lose what we've got."
"I don't like the increase, but I'll vote for it because we need the protection," said Butch Warner of Hemlock.
Warner says he will reluctantly will back the request, but he says he isn't convinced his neighbors will do the same.
"I don't think it's going to pass," he said.
Saginaw County faces a $5.5 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2012. Commissioner Tim Kelly voted against putting the request on the ballot.
"This board needs to get serious about cutting cost and not balancing their budget on the backs on the taxpayers," he said. "I've been advocating for looking at compensation across the board."
"We felt this decision was so important that the voters should have the last say," said Commissioner Mike Hanley.
Thirty-five positions from road patrol to the jail are at risk if the millage fails. Karl says he believes they have what it takes to keep public safety at status quo.
"People have told us they are happy to continue to do the people's will," he said. "We have to have this millage."
The county will also make $1 million worth of cuts in other departments.
