Election Night: Unofficial results favor district asks

May 8—TRAVERSE CITY — Six area school districts put forth millage renewals and proposals for voters to consider on Election Night — and, according to unofficial results, six were granted.

Five of the districts requested millage renewals. Suttons Bay Public Schools, in Leland County, was the lone bond request. The proposal included a $18.34 ask for the school district to demolish the old middle school's north wing, and replace the existing middle school gymnasium.

"After weighing renovation versus replacement costs, the replacement of the current structure was determined to be the most cost-effective, long-term plan," Casey Petz, Suttons Bay Public Schools superintendent, said.

On Tuesday, 134 total registered voters weighed in, approving the proposal with the result of 77 voting yes and 57 voting no.

Petz said the district couldn't "be happier with the result."

In information provided to voters, bond approval would raise property taxes by 0.10 mills in 2023 on an annual basis and result in an increase to the average homeowner of about $27.50 a year, based on "an average parcel market value of $550,987."

These funds could only be used for new construction, facilities and other capital needs. Construction will take place between the spring 2025 and continue to fall 2028.

The plan is a matter not only of fiscal responsibility, but safety and security, Petz said.

"It's standing here unused, and it could be a matter of time before animals, or even people, mess with it, try to break in. We want to knock it down before that happens."

Petz also pointed out that district enrollment — 578 students in the 2022-23 count — has been on the decline for years, which led to the initial compressing of students and staff.

For the other five school districts with renewals on the ballot, results were favorable.

In Antrim County, Boyne City and Ellsworth Community school districts each had renewals for voters to decide on.

Boyne City Public Schools offered two proposals. The first was a non-homestead operating millage renewal for 18.4004 mills, and then a second 1-mill restoration request for tax years 2025-2030 that would offset the impact of the rollback caused by the Headlee Amendment.

On Tuesday, 28 total voters approved the proposals, with a result of 19 voting yes and 6 voting no for the renewal. For the bond proposal, 17 voted yes, 8 voted no.

The renewal allows the district to continue its 18 operational mills, and collect approximately $8,564,638 in revenue.

Ellsworth Community Schools requested an operating millage renewal to allow the district to continue the levy at the statutory rate of 18 mills. The current levy will be expiring this year, so the new one will cover tax years 2025 through 2029.

Voters approved the request, with a result of 227 voting yes, and 73 voting no.

The estimated revenue to be collected by the district will be approximately $915,787.

For Benzie County voters, the only district with a proposal on the ballot was Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, as they sought to renew an 18-mill levy that is set to expire this year. Upon approval, the levy would cover tax years 2025 through 2029.

The result of the proposal was an approval by 501 total voters, with 405 voting yes and 92 voting no.

The estimated revenue from the levy will be approximately $7,271,197 annually.

Leland Public Schools, in Leelanau County, asked voters to approve a millage renewal of 10.9013 mills that expired in 2023.

Voters approved the renewal Tuesday night. With 761 total voters reporting to the polls, 532 voted yes, and 229 voted no.

As a result, the district will collect approximately $5,209,315 annually.

Stephanie Long, Leland Public Schools superintendent, acknowledged the alliance between the district and the community.

"This is a partnership," Long said, adding that the conversation is ongoing, telling people that "your school is important to our community, and this is just a reminder that we're keeping our doors open and being responsive to our student needs."

The Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District asked voters to renew a levy that was first approved 43 years ago, and has been renewed every four years since.

The request was for 1.4606 mills for tax years 2024 through 2027, to generate approximately $10,3 million for special education programs. For the owner of a house with a market value of $200,000, the cost will be approximately $150 a year, school officials estimate.

On Tuesday, 961 total voters approved the levy once more, with 592 voting yes, and 369 voting no.

"[This millage] provides critical services to students with disabilities in every school within Char-Em ISD," Koziol wrote in a letter to families in the district.

The results are unofficial, as of press time.