Voters turn down school millage, State Proposal 1

On Tuesday, May 5, about 78% of statewide voters turned down the many-faceted Proposal 1 aimed at improving roads and raising the sales tax.
And, while they were in the mood, voters in the Van Buren Public Schools district also turned down a renewal of the 1.13 mill sinking fund for seven years, on a vote of 3,415 yes to 4,514 no.
In Belleville the vote was 111 yes and 538 no on Proposal 1 and 332 yes and 312 no on the school millage. 20% turnout.
In Van Buren Township the vote was 736 yes and 3,903 no on Proposal 1 and 2,002 yes and 2,411 no on the school millage. Turnout was 21.4%.
In Sumpter Township the vote was 151 yes and 1,570 no on Proposal 1 and 304 yes and 804 no on the school millage. Turnout was 24.72%.
In the part of Canton Township in the VBPS district, the school millage vote was 229 yes and 332 no, with a 14.74% turnout.
A total of the two Ypsilanti Township precincts in the VBPS district was 265 yes and 326 no on the school millage, with a 13.83% turnout.
Gov. Rick Snyder issued a statement Tuesday night saying doing nothing about roads isn’t an option and “while voters didn’t support this particular proposal, we know they want action taken to maintain and improve roads and bridges …” and he plans to work on a solution.
The Van Buren Schools plan to bring back the sinking fund question to voters, but possibly not the same proposal.