Voters in Macomb County will decide millage renewal designed to help area veterans

DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ) - On August 7, voters in Macomb county will decide if they will continue to support a millage aimed at aiding area veterans.

The Veterans millage is up for re-approval in the August primary, four years after it was approved by a 2-to-1 margin.

The millage amounts to about $4 per year for a household worth $100,000 or more. It increased the Macomb County Veteran Affairs Department budget from $600,000 to $1.3 million.  

The Macomb County Veteran Affairs Office serves as the link between service officers and the vets who are often reluctant to request necessary help for issues like PTSD and homelessness.

The approval allowed the department to hire five new professional service officers. It has also significantly decreased the wait time for a veteran seeking help from five weeks to an average of one to two weeks.

The office also the Macomb County Veterans Relief Fund, an overseas grant program that helps with utility shut-offs and other emergencies.

Other benefits provided by the office include burial allowances, medal requests, and education for veterans' spouses and children.

It is estimated that more than a million active-duty personnel will join America's 22 million veterans over the next five years.