(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/08/2023) Local voters agreed to bond out nearly $330 million for school projects in at least 13 school districts, according to election results compiled by MIRS News.
With a couple of bonding proposals outstanding, voters in three communities -- Pellston, Central Montcalm and Meridian -- rejected another $77 million in new bonding. Results from Baldwin were still outstanding Tuesday evening.
Overall, 87% of the 71 ballot proposals MIRS tracked passed, but a $15 million bonding request for roads in Fraser and a $44 million police and jail bonding proposal for Tuscola County also went down.
The only other defeats were a 3-mill property tax increase for the Owosso Public Schools, a 1.5 mill increase in Gladwin County for law enforcement and an $11,500-a-year millage renewal for the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority in the Upper Peninsula.
The Central Montcalm and Tuscola County asks were the third-and fourth-largest bonding proposals, respectively, that were put before local voters during Tuesday’s millage election.
The largest was the Berkely School District, which convinced its voters to pass an $88 million bonding proposal over 25 years. The second largest was in South Lake in Macomb County. Voters there green-lighted a $49.75 million bonding proposal.
Overall, fire services did well. Of the 10 millage increase or renewal proposals MIRS found results for, every one passed. The Lake Township Fire Department was the only result outstanding.
Of the eight money asks dealing with roads, only the bonding proposal in Fraser didn't pass.
MIRS found results in 32 of the 34 school districts. Of those, 27 passed and five failed. Two sinking funds were on the ballot. Mid-Peninsula Schools' $85,000 question passed, while Hamtramck's $760,000 request failed.
Of the 22 mileage renewals, only the Iron Ore Trail in the Upper Peninsula saw its proposal go down. Of the 15 millage restoration questions, all but one was a yes. The one holdout was in Lake County, where results hadn't yet been reported.
All three library proposals passed.
Half of the four police requests failed. Outside of the Iron Ore Trail, all of the recreation-related proposals passed, as well.
