Unofficial results show voters passing ballot proposals in Allegan County, according to tallies posted to www.allegancounty.org.
Canvassers typically certify election results later in the week.
Turnout was 15.1 percent, with 7,844 casting ballots from among 51,874 registered voters.
Did a millage pass in your district, city or township? Calculate the annual cost by dividing your home’s taxable value by 1,000 and then multiplying that times the millage amount.
For example, a 1.5-mill tax would cost a homeowner with a home with $50,000 in taxable value a total of $75.
Here’s how the math would look: $50,000 divided by 1,000 = $50; then $50 x 1.5 = $75.
City council races
Allegan: It was no contest in Allegan, literally, as incumbent Mayor Rachel M. McKenzie (220 votes), incumbent Mayor Pro-Tem Stacie K. Stotmeister (185 votes) won re-election to four year-terms. Newcomer Traci Perrigo (257 votes) won her four-year term unopposed as well.
As usual, Jim Richardson, running unopposed, received 283 votes to do nothing--as his two-year post as city Constable has no responsibilities, per city charter.
Douglas: Incumbents Lisa Greenwood (266 votes), Greg Harvath (234 votes) and Kathy Mooradian (249) ran unopposed for their two-year seats.
Saugatuck: Council members Bill Hess (185 votes), Christine Peterson (196 votes) and Jeff Spangler (192 votes) ran unopposed for their two-year seats.
Wayland: The three incumbent city council members retained their seats for another set of two-year terms.
Mayor pro-tem Jennifer Antel earned 389 votes; Lisa Banas, 399; and Rick Mathis, 387.
Former council member Sheryl A. Hamilton earned 296 votes.
Allegan Public Schools
Unofficial results show voters passed the Allegan Public Schools’ sinking fund proposal 661 to 587.
The sinking fund is designed to help pay for a variety of facility and maintenance needs.
The 1-mill tax for five years will help fund projects such as replacing aging roofs and heating and cooling systems, repaving parking lots, replacing outdated computers and other classroom technology.
Casco Township
Voters in Casco Township passed a new road repair and paving tax by a 132-to-65 vote.
The 1-mill tax will be levied for five years starting this year, “to pave, repair, construct, or reconstruct roads, bridges, or drainage structures.”
It will generate an estimated $213,000 of additional revenues in its first year.
City of Fennville
City commission: Incumbents Danielle Brien (111 votes), Thomas Pantelleria (114 votes)and James Suerth (87 votes) each ran unopposed for their four-year terms.
Fire safety millage: Voters passed a new millage by a 112-to-47 vote for the fire department on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The 1-mill, six-year tax is expected to provide funds for fire safety and bring in an estimated $21,209 in its first year.
It will cover a new full-time position at the Fennville Area Fire Department and help pay for a $390,000 fire truck replacement.
Earlier this year, the city and Manlius Township, the two entities that make up the fire department, agreed to create a $44,000, full-time daytime firefighter position to staff the station on West Fennville Street. The city’s share is $22,000.
Fennville Public Schools
Voters passed Fennville Public Schools’ $23 million bond proposal by a vote of 702 to 629.
It is planned to fund renovations in buildings district wide but focus primarily on the 42-years-old high school and athletic facilities.
The bond project will renovate high school classrooms and other parts of the building, buy new computers and the network infrastructure to support them, create secure entries for the high school and elementary schools, create several athletic fields, reorganize the student drop-off area at the elementary school, build a new transportation facility and make some improvements to the Community Athletic Center.
Interurban Transit Authority
Voters overwhelmingly renewed millages in Saugatuck, Douglas and Saugatuck Township to continue funding the Interurban, which offers low-cost, on-demand public transportation within the three municipalities.
The five-year renewal sets its tax levy at 0.5 mill; it had been reduced by required Headlee rollbacks to 0.4968 mill in its most recent year.
The first year, it is estimated to collect $70,478 in the City of Saugatuck, $72,462 in Douglas and $144,017 from Saugatuck Township.
City of the Village of Douglas: 298 to 27
Saugatuck city: 237 to 34
Saugatuck Township: 623 to 99
(Total: 1158 to 160)
Martin Public Schools
Voters renewed for two years, by a 212-to-54 vote, the district’s 18-mill operating millage.
The tax is on non-homestead properties, which include commercial and industrial parcels, some agricultural land and second homes. It does not apply to primary residences.
It will generate an estimated $560,645 in revenue in 2018. The money is restricted to be spent on staffing and utility costs and other operational costs.
Otsego Public Schools
Voters passed a $6.96 million bond project to create a nature-based early childhood center as well fund classroom computers for most students. The proposal passed 695 to 448.
A sizable donation last summer will help subsidize offering the district’s preschool program to all eligible students in the district.
Saugatuck Public Schools
Voters passed both of the district’s proposals, one a renewal of its operating millage and the other for the district’s community recreation program.
The 18-mill non-homestead tax, plus 2 mills to guard against losing money due to future Headlee Amendment rollbacks, passed 924 to 335. The combination equates to $5,737,075 for the 2017-2018 school year, approximately 75 percent of the schools’ operating budget.
The 0.25-mill tax for two years to allow the schools to continue to operate the community recreation program passed 922 to 336. It will raise approximately $143,823, the program’s entire budget, in 2018.
Saugatuck Township
Voters here renewed a five-year renewal of its previously-increased 0.9667 mill on taxes to pave, repair, construct or reconstruct roads, bridges or drainage structures. The tally was 597 to 123.
This renewal will generate an estimated $284,332 in 2018.
Wayland Union Schools
With big support from city voters, Wayland Union Schools’ $19.25 million bond project passed 1,277 to 1,087. That includes votes from Wayland city‑which passed the project 400 to 223‑and the townships of Dorr, Hopkins, Leighton and Wayland.
The bond project will add a new wing of classrooms plus a secure entrance to the middle school; address some other security concerns in other buildings; install a new elevator, heating and cooling systems and fire suppression system at Pine Street Elementary; purchase new technology; and replace unusable tennis courts at the middle school with 12 new courts on Wildcat Drive (the high school courts will be replaced with more parking).
With its 12 new classrooms, the middle school will then be able to house grades six through eight. Pine Street would then house grades four and five.
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