A mental health services and public safety millage wins countywide approval, while voters in the nine public school districts in Washtenaw County pass a special education renewal question. Two countywide millage issues on the ballot in Washtenaw county were both approved in Tuesday's elections.
Both the community mental health and public safety preservation millage and the Washtenaw Intermediate School District special education millage were approved by voters.
The new, one-mill, 8 year millage was approved by a nearly two to one margin. About three quarters of the over $15-million dollars it will generate in the first year will be split between Washtenaw County community mental health and the Sheriff's department. The rest will go to seven municipalities to use as they see fit. In Ann Arbor, plans include using the funds to address pedestrian and bicycle safety, affordable housing and environmental issues.
The school millage renewal is for a one-mill special education tax to cover services provided by Washtenaw county's public schools for another 8 years. It will provide just over $15-million dollars in 2018 to cover those services.
In a statement, WISD Superintendent, Scott Menzel, said the outcome is affirming. “The students throughout Washtenaw County who receive special education services are the winners tonight,” Menzel said. “We are grateful to live in a community that recognizes the importance of educating all children. I would like to thank the voters on behalf of the over 6,500 students in our county who benefit from a variety of special education supports.”
Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent, Dr. Benjamin Edmondson told WEMU News, "We, as County Superintendents, are thrilled by the support of our communities. Public education is alive and well and the foundation for youth, our future leaders. We cannot thank or be thankful enough for parents and voters. Many thanks also go to those within our selected communities like Ruth Jordan who carried a strong message on behalf of students and families relying on special education services."
Non-commercial, fact based reporting is made possible by your financial support. Make your donation to WEMU todayto keep your community NPR station thriving.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu
