School Resource Officer Millage Proposal

 On August 2, 2022, Midland County voters overwhelmingly approved the renewal of the School Resource Officer millage. a millage proposal first proposed in 2018 that levies a 0.4 mill for 4 years (2022-2026) to fund the placement of seven (7) School Resource Officers into all Midland County school districts. There is no cost to the schools for this program.

The Millage Proposal

• Provides 7 school resource officers to all Midland County public secondary schools
• Levies a 0.4 mill to all Midland County residents from 2022-2026
• Generates $1.5 million per year for personnel, vehicles, equipment, etc.
• County would absorb costs for 2 current school resource officers working in Midland Public Schools

The full ballot language:

“Shall the limitation on the total amount of general ad valorem taxes which may be imposed for all purposes upon real and personal property in Midland County be increased by a total levy of up to .4 mill ($.40 per $1,000.00) of taxable valuation, as finally equalized, for levy in the years 2018 through 2021, both inclusive, as provided in Article 9, Section 6, Michigan Constitution of 1963, as amended, for the purpose of assigning licensed law enforcement officers from the Midland County Sheriff’s Office and the Midland City Police Department as School Resource Officers to Midland County public schools (Midland Public, Meridian, Bullock Creek and Coleman) who will provide school security and law enforcement, and facilitate educational liaison between students, school staff, law enforcement officers, and the community which if approved and levied in its entirety is estimated to raise $1,488,680 in the first year?

Since the 2009-2010 school year, the Midland Police Department has provided 2 SROs to Midland Public Schools. Through this millage, an additional officer was added at each Midland Public Schools middle school and 3 Midland County Sheriff's Office deputies were added as SROs to Midland County schools. 

This breakdown includes:

• Bullock Creek Schools (1)
• Coleman Community Schools (1)
• Meridian Public Schools (1)
• Midland Public Schools (4)
  • H.H. Down High School
  • Midland High School
  • Jefferson Middle School
  • Northeast Middle School

What is a School Resource Officer (SRO)?

According to the National Association of School Resource Officers, an SRO is “a law enforcement officer with sworn authority who is deployed by their employing police department or agency in a community-oriented assignment to work in one or more schools”. SROs also receive additional special training before working in their schools.

Job Duties of a School Resource Officer

Most often, SROs take on a mentoring role with their students: serving as a positive role model, fostering positive relationships between youth and police, helping with problem solving, and providing a safe and supportive environment. However, as a licensed law enforcement officer, SROs have the training and authority to act and protect students and staff in emergency situations.

Common benefits seen by schools who employ School Resource Officers include:

• Increases feelings of safety among students and staff
• Encourages a positive relationship between youth and law enforcement
• Prevents or minimizes property damage in schools and surrounding areas
• Prevents student injuries and even death due to violence, drug overdoses, etc.
• Reduces 911 emergency calls from schools
• Reduces likelihood that a student will be arrested

VIDEO: What Does An SRO Do?

Want to know what a day in the life of an SRO is like? Meet Officers Eddie Hinson (Midland High School) and Brian Soule (Dow High School) and hear more about what they bring to their school environments.