KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County voters have once again easily approved the renewal of enhanced funding for local schools. It passed by a vote of 16,833 to 10,386.
It raises about $11 million and will mean an additional $339 per student. All of the school districts in Kalamazoo County share in the funding on a per-student basis. It’s the fifth time voters have approved the 1.5-mill request for enhancement funding.
About 2,500 fewer voters filled in the circle on this ballot question than on the consolidated dispatch issue. Apparently, there were stronger feelings for the user fee hike on both sides than on the school millage renewal.
Voter turnout was about 15 percent but less than 14 percent voted on the school issue. In other area elections voters in Parchment have picked Holly Evans over Nicole Parsons to fill a vacancy on the Parchment City Commission 114 to 106.
Voters in Van Buren County crushed a millage hike to make jail and courthouse improvements 1900 voting yes and over 4,800 voting no. Voters there were asked to approve seven-tenths of a mill to fund the improvements and additional space to the historic but outdated facilities.
Voters in South Haven and South Haven Township approved additional funding for the library, and voters in Bangor approved a park improvement request.
Tuesday was an election day in some communities in Calhoun County.
Voters in the Pennfield School District voted down an $8.6 million bond proposal for security and technology upgrades at school facilities by just 35 votes. It lost 855 to 820.
Voters in Fredonia Township backed paying more for road improvements, and Marshall-area voters approved a request for additional funding to support their Emergency Medical Responders with new equipment.
