Montmorency County Sheriff Don Edwards and the county's board of commissioners are going to have to make some tough financial decisions after a pair of millages were defeated on Tuesday.

The proposals would have added officers, which would have allowed increased road patrol in Montmorency and allowed the department badly needed patrol cars.

The first request for a half mill would have been for operational funds was defeated 942-833. A second millage for equipment asked for a quarter mill and was denied 920-854.

Edwards said he thinks there were several factors why the proposals failed.

"I think the economy is one reason and I also think that if we would have had a little more positive statements from the commissioners about how bad it was needed could have helped," Edwards said. "I want to thank everyone who was in support of it and come the first of the year we will do the best we can."

The sheriff's department was 100 percent funded by the county's general fund and some voters wanted a stance by the commissioners that would guarantee the county wouldn't make drastic cuts if the millage passed. Those guarantees never came. Edwards said he thinks the commissioners could have done more.

" I never heard them say one positive thing. They never went to any meeting with me in support of it. They are talking about cutting maybe one or two officers," Edwards said. "It really depends on how severe the cuts by the state are. If we try to do it again next year they are going to have to make more positive statements. I never got that warm fuzzy feeling that they were really behind it. Things are really going to get nitty gritty now."

The other millage proposal was for a half mill in Briley Township that would have been used to acquire the old elementary school and turn it into a community Center the request was denied 287-189.