Local voters shape future of schools, police
Romulus School Millage
Romulus voters have approved the renewal of a property tax that has helped pay for school operations for decades, a levy the district reports as totaling about $745,000 a year. In favor of the renewal were 5,435 or 56 percent of votes cast. Opposed to the renewal were 4,226 or 44 percent of votes cast Tuesday. District officials stressed this is not a new tax or new levy, but renewal of existing funding to support schools.
The proposal renews the Romulus Community Schools “hold harmless” millage for 10 years, from 2027 through 2036. The current authorization runs through the 2026 tax collection and will raise about $745,254 in 2027.
The proposal authorizes up to 2.5 mills, the maximum allowed by law, but the district said it would levy only the legally restricted amount, currently 1.3115 mills. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which differs from market value.
Romulus School Board
Romulus voters on Tuesday chose four members from a field of five candidates to serve on the Romulus Community Schools Board of Education.
The top four vote getters will serve 4-year terms on the nonpartisan board.
Porshe A. Laster received 4,412 or 22.2 percent of the votes cast; Ursula Rogers won 4,171 or 20 percent of the votes; Antoine D. Jackson received 4,123 or 10 percent of votes cast and Darcel C. Davis garnered 4,044 or 20 percent of the votes.
Nichole Smith received 3,793 or 18 percent of the total votes cast.
Laster and Jackson currently serve on the district seven-member board. Laster serves as board president, while Jackson is a trustee. according to the district website. Rogers serves as the board secretary according to the school district website.
The board members oversee district policy and operations and play a role in superintendent oversight. Members’ decisions affect students, families, teachers and staff throughout the Romulus school system.
Sumpter Police Millage
The ballot proposal to fund the Sumpter Township Police Department was approved by voters on Tuesday with 2,331 Yes notes and 2,235 voters saying No.
The 5-mill proposal for dedicated police operations was on the ballot for the second time.
A similar proposal on the August ballot was defeated by voters and members of the township board attributed the loss to unclear ballot language and confusion regarding the question. While the ballot language Tuesday requested 5 mills, the actual increase to continue police service in the community will be 2 mills. The current 3 mill funding will expire, leaving the department facing deep cuts if voters had not approved the proposed millage.
Officials estimate the millage will bring in more than $2.4 million in the first year. Police Chief Eric Luke said it would cost the average homeowner an estimated $250 a year.
Voters rejected the proposal in the Aug. 4 primary, 57 percent to 43 percent with 1,284 voting no and 982 voting yes.
Because the August measure also covered renewal of existing millages, that defeat meant the department lost all millage funding. Luke said that amounts to a 41 percent cut to the department operating budget.
The township had not sought a new police millage in 15 years, despite increased population and calls for service.
PROPOSAL 1: CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Michigan voters have again rejected a proposal to convene a state convention in which delegates work to overhaul the state constitution. The mechanism, informally called a “Con-Con,” was written into the 1963 constitution.
No votes totaled 3,043,198 or 73.8 percent while the proposal won approval from 1,081,057 or 26.2 percent of votes cast. Voters have previously rejected the proposal by strong margins in 1978, 1994 and 2010.
The rejected proposal will return automatically in 2042.
The ballot asked whether a convention of elected delegates should be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the state constitution for presentation to voters for approval or rejection.
Approval of the measure would not have rewritten the state constitution but would have required an election of one delegate for each of the 110 Michigan House districts and 38 Senate districts, 148 in all, on a partisan ballot. Delegates would have then convened in Lansing next year.
PROPOSAL 2: LIMITING POLITICAL SPENDING
Voters chose to overwhelmingly approve Proposal 2, an initiated law that would amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. It would restrict direct and indirect contributions from regulated electric and gas utilities, from government contractors receiving more than $250,000 a year, and from people or organizations with “substantial connections” to them.
Wayne County election officials said 3,406,591 or 81 percent of voters were in favor of the measure while 796,578 or 19 percent were opposed.
The measure will apply to monopoly utilities and large state contractors whether or not they are based in Michigan. It does not outright ban dark money spending but requires donor disclosure from groups running so-called issue ads before Michigan elections. Supporters said the companies affected are not held in check when they raise utility bills or health care premiums because they help fund the politicians meant to oversee them.
