KALAMAZOO/CALHOUN COUNTIES, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Final polling results are in for a number of ballot requests and renewals in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
Here are the latest numbers as of 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for the ballot proposals in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. This includes all the absentee ballots from Kalamazoo city and Portage.
— KALAMAZOO COUNTY METRO TRANSIT MILLAGE —
With 107 of 107 of the precincts reported, but not county absentee ballots, 28,276 voters said yes to the millage increase, while 12,156 said no.
That means the Central County Transportation Authority millage passes, replacing the 0.75-mill rate with the new 0.9-mill millage tax for the next five years, beginning in 2021.
This new millage is meant to maintain and upgrade the transit authority’s fixed-route bus system.
— SCHOOLCRAFT SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL —
The Schoolcraft Community Schools bond proposal passed by a very small margin with 1,171 yes votes and 1,076 no votes.
Voters previously rejected the same bond request proposal during the November 2019 general election.
This will bring a 3-mil property tax on top of the existing 4-mil rate, which means the new 7-mil property tax would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $150 annually and raise an estimated $39.9 million.
The district says they plan to use the funding to build a new elementary school and add-on to the district’s high school to accommodate middle school students. Additional funding will also pay for security improvements and repairs to athletic facilities.
District officials say a new breakdown of how funding will be spent can be found at their website.
— SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP INCORPORATION AS CHARTER TOWNSHIP —
Voters in Schoolcraft have voted against becoming a charter township. Numbers show that 842 people voted yes while 1,737 voted no.
This would’ve made Schoolcraft incorporate as a charter township, declaring it a municipal corporation, but the proposal failed.
It would’ve also allowed the board to increase from five members to seven members and increase the board’s power to levy up to 5-mills without voter approval.
— BATTLE CREEK MAYOR PROPOSAL —
Voters in Battle Creek approved a new way of choosing their city’s mayor.
They will now switch to direct-election of their mayor, meaning the voters would choose instead of city commissioners deciding among themselves. The current system has been in place since the 1960’s.
The mayor will now be changed into a separate position, but will still serve as a commissioner. This proposal does not change the duties of the mayor but more on how they will be chosen.
The new mayor would serve a two-year term.
— BATTLE CREEK CITY CHARTER LANGUAGE PROPOSAL —
Battle Creek voters also approved updating their city charter language, making it more gender-inclusive.
Currently, the charter refers to city officials using the male pronouns like “he” and “him,” but this proposal will now change the pronouns to the gender non-specific words like, “they” and “them.”
Officials say this will eliminate any confusion over who can hold these job positions and be friendlier to the transgender community.
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Many people took advantage of the new Proposal 3 election rules with no reason absentee voting and same day voter registration. This made it a little harder for election officials to gather the final results due to an explosion of absentee ballots this year.
More election results can be found on Kalamazoo County’s website and on Calhoun County’s website. Full state results can be found here.
