By Mary Drier
Staff Writer
THUMB AREA — All three school districts in Tuscola County that hosted ballot issues during Tuesday’s elections passed by a comfortable margin.
Millington Schools – request to continue levying the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except on principal residence and other property exempt by law, passed with 388 “yes” votes to 174 “no” votes.
The request was for six years from 2015 to 2020. The millage will generate about $636,275 the first year for school operations.
Vassar Schools – to continue levying the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except on principal residence and other property exempt by law, passed with 246 “yes” votes to 105 “no” votes.
The request was for 10 years from 2015 to 2024. The millage will generate about $768,785 the first year.
Akron – Fairgrove Schools - request to approve a $3.1 million general-obligation bond for a variety of upgrades and improvements to schools facilities in Fairgrove and Akron passed by an overwhelming margin. The votes was 214 “yes” to 76 “no” votes.
The ballot wording asked for a “2-mill levy, for a net – 0 – mill increase from the prior year’s levy,” and goes on to say ‘”the estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is $1.73 mills.”
While the wording on the ballot was rather confusing, district officials took time to explain that the request boiled down to a 2 mill request for 10 years that won’t increase the current millage rate, and is expected to lower it over time.
This new bond would pay off that original millage from 1999 without an increase in millage as well as generate enough to do the upgrades and improvements at no additional cost to taxpayers. Some of the improvements include: security, energy efficiency, technology upgrades, infrastructure, security, roofs, heating and lighting upgrades, and more.
According to district officials, they are grateful for voter support.
The results are unofficial until the Tuscola County Board of Canvassers meets this afternoon to verify the tallies.
Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.