The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
New millage won't be on ballot
Ballot question proves too costly, held-off until next year
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: September 27, 2007
In a unanimous decision, Lincoln Consolidated Schools' Board of Education voted not to fund a ballot question for recreational activities in November.
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Trustees Jan Upston and James Paschal were not present at the meeting.
The Board made the decision after learning the cost of the last election, held this May. Cathy Secor, the district's director of business services, said the Lincoln was billed a total $21,349 for the school board election held.
The election would have put a failed ballot question, asking for tax dollars to fund the district's senior citizens' center and community education, from May's election. With a 1.18 percent margin, or 20-vote, loss, the millage would have earmarked .25 mils during the next 20 years. It was expected to generate $239,805 for the programs, which the school board had cut out of its budget last year.
Fred Williams, Lincoln's superintendent said the programs should be able to survive another year due to fundraising and increasing their program fees. Because next November is a presidential election, there would be little or no cost accrued by the district.
"There were a lot of assumptions made," Williams said at the meeting, held on Sept. 10.
Secor said elections could be costly if no other issues are on the ballot. She said the assumed cost of less than $10 would have been appropriate if Lincoln's proposal weren't the only one. She said election before this past one had only cost the district $5,928.
The district had decided it would make a second attempt at the ballot measure because officials had felt the word hadn't gotten out properly, and many voters weren't informed about the issue at hand.
"We don't feel we got enough support for those groups," Williams said.
In the future, he said an advisory board should be set up to over-see the canvassing process next year, as to ensure the voters are informed on the issue.
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