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neonvincentSchool millages passing in Washtenaw County while Ann Arbor schools are closed
While national attention was focused on the Indiana Primary, voters throughout Washtenaw County approved a millage increase for special education. Those in Chelsea renewed a millage for construction, building repair, and site acquisition.
According to the Washtenaw County Clerk, the proposal to increase the Washtenaw Intermediate School District's special education millage by 1.5 mills for ten years is winning by 19,071 yes votes (59.33 percent) to 13,072 no votes (40.67 percent) with ninety-six percent of precincts reporting. The measure lost in Jackson County, where it earned 34 yes votes (46.58 percent) to 39 no votes (53.42 percent), a five-vote margin lost in the 6,000 vote lead for the measure in Washtenaw County.
The millage is projected to raise $22,163,000 the first year it is levied. The funds will be distributed to the nine school districts in the county according to the number of special education students each has. Currently, special education is funded by the school districts' general funds.
Renewing the Chelsea School District's current 0.925-mill building and site sinking fund for another 10 years is passing even more handily. The measure currently has 1,562 votes for (61.67 percent) to 971 votes against (38.33 percent) with all precincts in the Washtenaw County portion of the district reporting. It also passed in the Jackson County portion of the district, 38 yes votes (57.58 percent) to 28 no votes (42.42 percent). The measure will raise $792,000 in 2017.
The irony of today's vote for school funding was that Ann Arbor Public Schools closed its buildings because of safety concerns related to the election. Twenty Ann Arbor schools serve as polling places.
“We had received a variety of concerns on a variety of issues about school safety following the election,” district spokesman Andrew Cluley told MLive, referring to the March 8 presidential primary. “Obviously safety of our kids is our very top priority and when we have staff members and parents concerned, it needs to be dealt with.”
The district used one of their six allotted inclement weather days. “After checking with the state to confirm it was okay, we opted to treat it like a snow day,” Cluley said.
