LENAWEE COUNTY, Mich. — UPDATE: Lenawee County voters approved three levy renewals on the ballot Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.
There were 2,275 votes out of 2,934 in favor of the 18.2517-mill, 10-year Adrian Public Schools levy and 1,425 votes out of 1,717 in favor of the 2.5-mill, 10-year Adrian District Library levy.
Two hundred out of 270 votes were in favor of the 18-mill, three-year levy for Morenci Area Schools.
The original story is below:
Lenawee County voters will decide the future of school funding for two local districts on Tuesday.
Both Adrian Public Schools and Morenci Area Schools have operating millage renewal proposals on the May 7 ballot. The Adrian District Library is also asking voters to approve a new millage request.
Adrian schools' renewal is for 18.2517 mills on properties within the district. That totals $18.2517 per $1,000 of taxable property value. This levy only affects non-homestead property, meaning rental homes and commercial and industrial properties.
"Our community supports education and they support public schools," said APS Superintendent Nate Parker. "They've always been very generous and willing to do their part when it comes to these kinds of things."
The district said the annual revenue collected would be approximately $4,715.596. If approved, that funding would continue for an additional 10 years.
Dan Pena, business manager for APS, says it's an important vote because the money that would be raised from it makes up a big chunk of the district's budget.
"We've gone from $39 up to $45, $46, even $47 million of a budget, so we have a significant budget and this piece is roughly 10-11% of it," Pena said.
If voters reject the levy, APS officials told WTOL 11 that the district would be out approximately $.7 million in operational revenue.
The Morenci school district is asking voters to renew its current millage collection of 18 mills on properties within the district at a cost of $18 per $1,000 of taxable property value. District administration said the request does extend for three years, which is different than the previous annual requests, due to the rising cost of elections.
The Adrian District Library has a millage proposal requesting new funding in Lenawee County. The request is for 2.5 mills, or $2.50 per $1,000 of taxable property, for 10 years.
"We're more than just books," said Adrian District Library director Jennifer Wrzesinski. "I can understand that people think that's an outdated thing, but we have a lot more to offer than that."
The estimated revenue collection for the library in the first year is $1.2 million. If approved, the new tax would go into effect next year.
Library officials say if voters reject its levy, it would cut about 90% of its operating budget.
The money raised would help hire more staff to meet the Adrian community's needs among other efforts, Wrzesinski said.
"We're working to get out into the community more and do more outreach and get to people we know, and some smaller study room spaces is another thing we're looking at," she said.
Polls are open at the Lenawee County Fairgrounds Merchant's Building from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters in line by 8 p.m. will be permitted to cast their ballot. Additional information for voters in Lenawee County can be found here.
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