It's election day: What Washtenaw County voters need to know

VOTE NO!

No higher taxes

Vote Yes. Support our schools and our county.

we pay enough .everyone is having it hard,restructure .vote no on everything that wants money.the well is dry.

Please support our children and vote yes!

Keep Washtenaw County a strong magnet for business; Vote Yes for the Enhancement Millage...

And Tom Bower, we know that charter schools don't get the money. It's because they are a business, and when the business formed, they agreed to the terms, including being excluded from county-wide millages such as this one. If the parents of those 3,500 students want to have their child benefit from the millage, they can. Send them to a public school.

Vote for fiscal responsibility. VOTE NO!

Vote No on any tax increase. To quote the great Hillary. "It takes a village" not a millage. I donate over 200 hours a year to the schools system. If rvry parent did the same there would be no need for para pros and less busses running. There would be crossing guards galore.

Yes, Lansing needs to restructure how it funds schools.
Yes, our county has some of the best schools, families, and teachers.
Yes, our schools will suffer under the state's new budget.
Yes, our children's educational programming will take a direct hit.
Yes, this millage will help maintain the excellence.
Yes, without this millage the pain to the schools will be immediate.
Yes, vote today to support the schools.

Vote Yes on the millage. All schools throughout the state are hurting and have tightened the belt tremendously, and the coming two years are going to be far worse because the legislators in Lansing can't get their act together with the budget. I applaud the leadership in Washtenaw County for coming up with this alternative means of funding. Until the entire State funding model is changed, these types of funding ideas will be necessary.

Are schools the only thing that "builds our community"? That money has to come from somewhere! For schools to win, someone else must lose. VOTE NO!

Along with the usual "I Voted" stickers that are normally handed out at the polls, they should also also have "I Am a Sucker" stickers to hand out to anyone who votes Yes on the school millage.

Ask yourself this question - do you know anyone in the public sector (either government or the public schools) who has actually lost a job? Even if so I suspect you know many more in the private sector who have lost jobs, over time, benefits, etc.

Government and the schools need to suck it up and suffer like everyone else. When any public sector employee complains about a 2% or 5% pay cut I wonder if they realize there are millions of people who have taken a 75% pay cut (the other 25% is unemploymenbt) and a 100% cut in benefits. I'm voting NO.

I haven't voted yet, but I'm planning to. I haven't made up my mind yet, but I'm inclined to feel that it isn't fair to ask people who are already struggling to pay more taxes -- and there are a lot of people struggling. If schools have to make temporary cuts in non-academic extras that's tough, but it's a life lesson and the kids will survive. If that's not good enough for the parents, then have some bake sales or fundraisers and make up the differences. Asking the entire city to help pay for your kids' schools (when a lot of us are students ourselves and/or out of school struggling to get a start in this economy) isn't really fair.

As far as the electronic stuff -- I think putting everything on a website is a great idea and should be done all the time anyway. However, I don't like the vagueness of the proposals, and I think it may be detrimental to certain segments of the population who don't have skill with computers or internet access. That being said, I can't think of where anyone would go to buy this alternative newspaper they want to use... but I think maybe they should tighten up the language on A and B before expecting people to vote for them.

As if more money is going to solve the problems with education! It's time the schools look with-in to solve their problems. Don't enable bad behavior any further. Vote NO !!!

Vote YES.

Then stop reading this stupid Web site. Boycott this steady stream of extremist, anti-social lies.

Of $10,900 the school receive, they took a hit of between $300 and $500 in the county. That is between 3 and 5%. Changing the health care provider without changing any of the benefits would fix this for the schools. An open bid for policies would fix this whole mess.

More than $4,500 out of that money is spent for non-classroom overhead. Michigan has one of the highest ratios of over head to money spent of any state in the US.

Michigan ranked in the top quarter for school spending, but on the ACT Michigan ranks 49th of 51 (includes DC). Yes, not every state required every student to take the ACT, but of the 3 that did - Michigan spent the most per student and ranked dead last.

There are many ways to fix this cut without hitting the classroom. They have been detailed over the last 2 weeks in various threads. No one has debated any of these changes, the yes people have just come back and said - we need more money or we will have to cut art, sports, increase classes sizes, etc.

It is playing chicken with our children - when there are other much less painful options. This is what the Governor did, now our local schools are doing it. I dislike when elected officials put a virtual gun to my head.

I wonder if some lawyer can have fun testing this law under the equal protection act of the Constitution - given that about 500 students whose families will not be taxed (because they live outside the county) will receive benefits and 3,500 who do live in the county don't. I remember the cost of the substitute lawsuits. I hope we are not headed down that road again.

I voted "Yes" and hope that the millage passes.

I have thought this over carefully and plan to vote "no". Please join me in doing the same. There are just too many belt tightening measures that can be implemented first. First of all, consolidate the districts. There are too many administrative positions. Also, I will not vote for any additional money for schools until the teachers are willing to make concessions on their retirement and health insurance plans, as the rest of us have done long ago. They have come across as quite arrogant, that hasn't helped in my opinion. I work at UofM and have a defined contribution retirement program and have opted for the lowest cost health plan. They are serving me well.

I will Vote NO on the Millage! Learn to live on what you have Washtenaw County! The well is dry just as one other poster here mentioned. If those that think it's great to raise the taxes and give more then by all means donate your $200,$400,etc to your school for your child.

It's not my business to tell you how to vote. Just please do your civic duty and get out and vote.

No, no, no! Stop spending and start cutting. If the millage fails, two things will happen: First, administrators will hem and haw, and when they're done, they'll make superficial cuts to nonessential services the schools shouldn't be paying for anyway (like $17,000 worth of flash drives that parents in Dexter can well afford on their own). Second, someone at WISD will start planning for the next special election...

VOTE NO!

On my way to vote NO on the MEA bailout..
Didn't think much of the Banker bailout..
Can't afford to buy a car let alone pay to bailout the car companies..
Sorry MEA... The bankers and Big Auto already took all my money... I just can't bail you out too..

BTW why isn't anyone talking about a hard working American's bailout... Oh yeah that's right... The hard working people are supposed to do the bailing out...

NO more. This guy is off to take care of a family and vote to keep a roof over kids heads by voting...

NO on the MEA bailout...

Anyone interested in school board recalls... maybe if we get the handpicked MEA school board members replaced we can have some sort of accountability and sound financial management at our schools...

Vote early. Vote often. It's the American way.

Quality public education is one of the top factors (if not the top factor) to attract many residents to this area.

If the quality of public eduacation starts to deteriorate due to our inaction, the community in general and house values in particular would suffer.

Hopefully, the voice of reason will vote yes, and ignore the tens of thousands of dollars one rich Ann Arborite spent in his singular quest to tell us how much we value our schools. I'd like to know how many of the vociferous anti-school posters actually have children in the school system.

Anyone see the paid full page ad in Sunday's a2 paper, signed by a local "leader" urging a no vote?
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He suggested not to pay administrators competitive salaries.
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What if he quit his job to work for the public school district as an administrator, say, for $1 per year. He would then have a true, unbiased, unselfish voice in the operation of the school system, as well as credibility with those that see through the veil of leadership motivated by greed, self interest, and selfish agenda.
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Please vote Yes.

If parents want a better education for their kid, they can divert some of their spending to make up the difference. Vote NO on 2!

Seth Bechtel:
Hand-picked MEA school board members? The last few elections, the incumbants all ran unopposed. The only contested election was won by a true outsider who tried to pull out of the race but won anyway (and to his credit, is serving). Getting good school board candidates to step forward is like pulling teeth.

It is time to vote for new The 21st century a new local vision and the leaders for our community so please vote for Mitchell Ozog.

I believe that the problems our community faces can be solved. I know it will take the hard work of all of its good citizens can and should be leading the way. I hope that I have been able to convince you.

One more thing – I think the Ann Arbor City official ballot is not right.I have noticed that there is an image of the American flag which points directly to one of the candidates(Sabra Briere). I feel that such image give the suggestion to voters just to vote on this specific candidate. I do not feel that was necessary to introduce the image, unless there is reason for this. However,when using the image, it is fair to refer this to both of the candidates not just a particular candidate.

Heard that even the school employees are voting NO on this millage. Seems like everyone thinks it is not a good deal for Ann Arbor.

Please support our children and vote NO!

Teacher salary cuts and them having to start paying more in benefit contributions like the rest of us hard working citizens, we cant take anymore bills in my household with my hours at work cut and benefit increases over the past two years...PLEASE VOTE NO SO MY KIDS WILL HAVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT!

Vote No!!! These Socialist public schools systems do not need anymore money. They Just need to learn to stop wasting money. The reason there is to much waste is because they know they can play that game "it's for the children" and con all you ignorant people into believing it. Most of the money goes to line their pockets while you have a hard time making ends meet. Pay for worthless services and events. Most teachers average $5700 per month that they work. Average($52000/year divide by 9 months that they actually work).
I own my own company and people tell me they can't afford to pay me that much because of the Taxes they have to pay in Ann Arbor.

I heard that even the school kids are voting no . . . they don't want to go to school anymore . . . so let's give them even more crowded classrooms . . .

I just wanted to clarify the issue of the graphic next to Sabra Briere's name on the ballot.

That graphic is not the American Flag; it is official vignette for the State's Democratic Party adopted per MCL 168.684. Michigan's ballot production standards require the vignettte placed on the ballot next to a partisan candidate's name (or next to the party name if there is a Straight Party Vote section included).

Because candidates running as "No Party Affiliation" do not have an officially adopted vignette, none is placed next to their names.

Matt Yankee
Acting Director of Elections
Washtenaw County

" I'd like to know how many of the vociferous anti-school posters actually have children in the school system."

John Saalberg,
It doesn't matter how many "vociferous anti-school posters" have children in the schools. We're all taxpayers and you're asking EVERYONE to give more money to the schools. Everyone's taxes will go up, so everyone gets an opportunity to let others know how the proposed tax increase would affect them.

Second, my guess is that the "vociferous anti-school posters" aren't really "anti-school" but instead, anti-sacred cow, anti-bloated administrations, and anti-overspending-for-poor-to-mediocre-performance. The schools have always treated the taxpayers in Washtenaw County as ATMs or worse, Santa Clauses who will provide them with whatever they ask whenever they ask for it with no strings attached.

The only time I hear from the schools is when they want money. Otherwise, I'm not welcome, ostensibly because I have no children in the school system. That I, as a taxpayer, am repeatedly asked to foot the bill for their nonsense is neither here nor there as far as they are concerned. I'd feel bad about it, but talk to any parent of children enrolled in the public schools; the schools do not want parents involved.

I hear from my school district once in August when they want to know if I'm planning to enroll my children, and I get "newsletters" only infrequently. (Invariably when a school millage is on the ballot, btw. Talk about crass.)

Nice and we call this democratic process.

My husband and I will vote NO. The school systems need to trim administrative costs and wasteful spending. We have always supported our schools - but this is not the time to ask for more money.

I am voting Yes.

Mr. Matt Yankee Thanks for information. - Mr. Yankee say:

"I just wanted to clarify the issue of the graphic next to Sabra Briere's name on the ballot.

That graphic is not the American Flag; it is official vignette for the State's Democratic Party adopted per MCL 168.684. Michigan's ballot production standards require the vignettte placed on the ballot next to a partisan candidate's name (or next to the party name if there is a Straight Party Vote section included).

Because candidates running as "No Party Affiliation" do not have an officially adopted vignette, none is placed next to their names."

Well Nice and we call this democratic process.
MO

My wife and I also voted no however we thing the cuts should come the next time the MEA contract is negotiated. We feel the teachers' benefits package is bloated and outrageously expensive. Currently it costs $1600 per pupil per year just to support teacher's benefits, not including salaries. That is 41% above the national average. This needs to be brought in line.

@ Andrew Thomas
The MEA publishes a document entitled "Electing Your Employer" which they deactivated on their website just a few days ago. However this document is 40 pages describing how to screen school board candidates to ensure that they will succumb to the union demands. It details how to recruit a candidate, how to filter out responsible leaders, how to "test" the candidate by suggesting ideas to use to force the candidate to change their position just to ensure that it is possible. While the link is inactive you can see for yourself the cover and a description of the document here: http://www.mea.org/bfcl/index.html
The MEA actively recruits union apologists, funds their efforts and attempts to recall or oppose any board member who dares to make financially sound decisions with our money. Today in Ingham county the unions have on the ballot a recall of two fine board members in the Leslie school district for the heinous "crime" of saving the district 800,000$.
We must begin to fight back and demand more.
Merit increases to replace tenure..
A defined contribution retirement plan to replace a defined benefit plan..
Outsourcing non-instructional services where it makes financial sense to do so..
These things are not that hard, it's just that the MEA owned school boards are unwilling to do them.

Its time to take back the ship.
VOTE NO on the MEA bailout and lets get our schools back.

I cast my yes vote around 10:00 am and was only the 24th person at the polling place. what a sad state of our electorate.

I have kids in school and I'm terrified that that the axe will fall even harder than it already has. Middle schools cut 2 years ago and I hate to see more. I voted yes. There are no perfect schools. We all have complaints. But giving less money will make things even worse.

Yes, fight the evil empires with our children as the clubs . . . aren't we grand?
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While we're at it, let's defund Social Security and Medicare. . .
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No more public roads . . . pay as you drive.
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No more government at all . . . open the border gates . . . close the banks . . . let every person fend for themselves. . . aren't we grand?
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This recession is far deeper than economics . . . it is far more about civilization and benevolence . . . How mean are we going to get?
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Ask our kids . . .

If this millage does pass, I would expect everyone at their next local school board meeting asking the board to place the funds into a separate account so everyone will see where the money goes...salary and benefits. Make your school board accountable and make your employees accountable. It is our public dollars that fund public schools. VOTE NO.

We were just informed the link in the story directing readers to polling places through the Washtenaw County website contains some incorrect info for Scio Township polling places.
If you live in Scio Township, here's where to vote today:
• Precinct 1- Dexter Senior Center.
• Precincts 2,3,4 Scio Township Hall (change for Precinct 4).
• Precinct 5 - Scio Farms MHP Clubhouse.
• Precincts 6,8 - Scio Fire Hall (change for precinct 8).
• Precincts 7,9 - WISD (change for precinct 9).

VOTE NO,

when the school districts have a real plan, not promises, not 'good intentions' but real concrete plans, then I'll vote yes. Until then....

VOTE NO. We need every vote to out-vote the nearly 4000 school employees in the county, who for the most part are voting for raises and benefits for themselves!

VOTE NO!

In response to the person who wondered whether "no" voters had kids in the school system, I'm willing to bet that a lot of us don't, and that's exactly why we don't want to spend our money paying for your kids. ;) There are a lot of school districts out there that are better than Ann Arbor. Good jobs are what bring a lot of people here and that's in large part due to U of M and the little research/innovation bubble it fosters in town. If that weren't the case, there wouldn't have been so much flight from town when Pfizer closed. I think it's incredibly silly to think that less money necessarily causes worse education. If even a fraction of waste and redundancy were cut from the school budgets, there would be no problem and the schools could easily remain competitive.

Uhm, U of M lives off your tax dollars too. Why aren't people crying and whining about all the waste at U of M? you think teachers make a lot and have it good, look at the U of M faculty, staff and professors, all suported by you. I think it is the only employer in the county that is matching 401K's 2 to 1.

Come on people. Don't be naive. This is how it always goes:

"Gee lets pass a resolution to spend billions of dollars on tree inventories and funding for public sculptures and stuff using our existing tax income."

Later that year...

"Oh gee, look. This road consists of 50% potholes and our schools are practically shut down! I guess we'll just have to raise taxes!"

These "oh gee, look, something critical needs money" issues are ALWAYS what's used to justify additional taxes. Nobody ever trys to get through tax proposals for the stupid crap they spend money on.

Lets see them first spend the money on schools, police, and fire departments, then try to get new tax money for the stupid stuff like public decorations! I wonder how well that ballot proposal would go through? Yet this is exactly what the current proposal really is.

UM has and endoment of between 5 and 7 Billion. They get tax money but also rais money through private citizens ...

@treetowncartel:(a) UM doesn't have 401ks, or offer anything by way of pensions like many employers do. (b) UM pays a LOT less (in many instances, half as much or LESS) than anything in the private sector. They are also actively continuing to cut every year and I haven't seen all the employees protest to the point of walking out yet. I do think there is waste at UM and I think that it needs to be held accountable for it. I don't know much about how the campus runs, but I know at the health system there are active and ongoing efforts to reduce spending and increase efficiency. UMHS also didn't give any raises this year, and is currently pushing more of the burden of benefits onto employees. Additionally, most employees at UM with the exception of nurses and GSIs and probably some of the mechanical people aren't unionized, which makes a difference. If it helps, I also don't vote for regents who think increasing tuition cost is the way to go. I think everyone needs to be focused on doing more with less, because as a nation we're in the red and we need to do something about it. I don't think anyone else in the world is going to bail us all out when we keep spending beyond our means.

Vote NO and while we're at it, let's fire all of these overstuffed pigs-at-the-trough and replace them with more affordable, and likely higher-performing, folks from the unemployment line.

Seth,
MEA doesn't pick school boards, we do through elections. I don't know whether or not the MEA actively recruits and vets candidates, but I do know they can't prevent an opposing candidate from running. When there is only one candidate in a race, that candidate may be good or bad, but there is no choice. So if there is so much concern out there that the MEA "owns" the school board, why haven't there been some opposing candidates? Could it be that serving on the school board is a time-consuming, thankless job and that most people just aren't willing or able to make that commitment?

To the commenter who called me out - can you at least spell my name right?

It's simple - if you degrade our school system by voting against the millage, you will enable a process which destroys the great school system that we have, and will bring down the value of your homes. If you are for lower home values and lowering the level of excellence that we have in our schools, by all means vote against the millage.

I think that those of you who complain about teachers' salaries are just mad that you have had job woes, and want someone else to suffer as you have - it's sad you've had job issues, but wishing the same on others is mean-spirited. I'm amazed that anyone with kids would vote against the millage - you do not appreciate how hard your kids' teachers work. Period.

The university does offer post retirment benefits.
Check it out right here.

http://www.umich.edu/~jobs/benefits.html

Why would anyone consider voting for this tax increase...the schools have never told us how they will account for the money and how they will spend the money. If you are an Ann Arbor school taxpayer you are subsidizing the other public schools in the county. I can see Saline voting for this, for every dollar they put in they get more than a dollar back. Ann Arbor gets less than what they put into the pot. And renters....renters this will increase your rent. Washtenaw county is already in the top 6% of counties across the country paying the highest property tax. Top 6%. 94% of the counties in this country can get by paying less tax...94% pay less..why is that?

This is Not about the teachers...this is about very poor management of the schools. The people at the top are the ones that need to go. I believe the teachers are doing the best they can. Management of the schools can't account for spending, haven't put in significant cost reduction programs...and worst of all...built a high school that isn't even needed with the dropping enrollment rates.

Would you hire a contractor for you home and tell them to just send you a bill without asking any questions. That is exactly what Ann Arbor schools want...they want you to send them the money..and not ask the tough questions.

VOTE NO on this very bad plan!!

And here it is in their own words.

Retirement Plan
The University offers Fidelity and TIAA-CREF retirement savings options. Employees can choose to use either or both for their 403(b) Basic Retirement Plan investments. Features of the U-M retirement savings plan include:

Self-managed – You can meet with Fidelity Investments or TIAA-CREF financial advisors to manage your 403(b) as you see fit or manage your account(s) online.

2-for-1 Matching – With a 5 percent employee contribution, the University automatically contributes double that amount (10 percent of your salary). For example, an employee with a salary of $40,000 would designate $2,000 (5 percent) to the 403(b); the University would contribute $4,000 (10 percent) annually.

Immediate Vesting – The entirety of the University’s 10 percent contribution is added to the 403 (b) immediately and is the property of the employee.

Supplemental Retirement Account – If you would like to invest more than 5 percent of your salary, you have the option of setting up a supplemental account for additional contributions (employer match doesn’t apply to supplemental accounts).

Teach our kids one of the most important lessons of all:

MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.

Vote NO!

Jon, again your fear comes down to property values and not what's best for the system. How about this:

A reduction is spending means that some programs get cut. Such is life. The cuts will force schools to focus on those parts of the curriculum that are REQUIRED by the state. As a result of the cost-cutting mandate, and greater emphasis on requirements, overall performance improves, which in turn, improves the school system, which as a side benefit also improves property values.

In your view of things, the Ann Arbor Public School district is the only district that matters. The entire county has to engage in this fire drill to make sure that Ann Arbor property values don't drop any farther than they already have. Who cares if the schools actually improve or how much money gets wasted in the process, just so long as the property values don't drop? Property values shouldn't be driving this millage, yet in Ann Arbor, it's hard to find someone who ISN'T convinced that more school spending equals higher property values.

Speaking of property values, that Greenbelt thing has really done wonders for Ann Arbor's property values, hasn't it? It seems like all anyone has to do to get a millage passed in Ann Arbor is start squawking about how the property values will fall if the Millage du Jour doesn't pass. Your greenbelt millage, the parks and rec millage and all of your extra school taxes haven't prevented your property values from declining, have they? Of course not. Everyone's property values are dropping. Guess what? This millage won't increase your property values either, and it certainly won't prevent them from falling farther.

Ask yourself this: how many MORE people would live in Ann Arbor if the property taxes weren't so high? How many more families with school-aged children would actually LIVE in the City of Ann Arbor if the taxes were lower? Right now, only one out of four households in Ann Arbor has school-aged children and that number is declining. Very soon, it will be 1:5. By 2030, it will be 1:6. If life is so grand in Ann Arbor, why are all the children LEAVING?

There is definitely truth to the idea that very few people step up and actively insist that schools be fiscally responsible. I am suggesting that this millage has highlighted all of the mismanagement and shined a big light on the ways which improvements can be made and how they are blocked. I intend to use the resources available to ensure that this does not continue. That is the point. We will make it no longer possible for the MEA to run an unopposed slate and significantly increase the cost of maintaining this stranglehold. We will make it possible to enact real reforms by backing up and supporting school board members committed to fiscal responsibility, and state house members who will do what is necessary in Lansing to allow local school boards to opt out of the state retirement ponzi scheme. By working to get the most out of our schools we can deliver a better educational experience at the most effective cost.

SpamBot1: Your attitude is exactly why many of us will vote no.

Voted NO on the millage increase. Taxpayers have less money and the government needs to cut cost like the rest of us.

Voted YES on the school millage. The health of our schools and the success of our students makes it worth paying a few dollars more each month in taxes.

I voted 'no' on maintaining the status quo of 100k plus paid adminstrators who make through the roof building contracts and then complain about a few hundred bucks per student hit from Lansing. First take a pay cut administrators before asking non-parent taxpayers to help your system.

NO
NO
and
NO

This was an easy vote this morning

By the way -- within this comments section so far (from those who have offered a vote):

NO - 39
YES - 12

I was a no.. I didn't actually put that in any posts but should be pretty apparent from my actual posts...
NO on MEA bailout. Demand real reform and higher standards and the most bang for our hard earned bucks..

All those calling for reform and trim, Im with ya even though I voted yes.A couple of you should run for school board, you can give back to your community through service and not the pocket bokk then.

A comment that violated our conversation guidelines was removed.

VOTE NO! NO HIGHER TAXES. Live within your means.

voted no on everything. get lotto to do what it was suppose to do.

I voted YES for everything, and was sadly disappointed by the short sighted votes of my neighbors. Who do you think is going to support this state in the next decade? Cheap, uneducated labor hanging outside Home Depot? Do we want to give our young people the advantages they need to be competitive?

Ann Arbor has been spared the worst of the economic distress that has ravaged the rest of the state, in some small part because bright, energetic young families move to where the good schools are. Property values here haven't declined as much as in other places. A $100,000 house would end up owing an extra $200 per year. That's $16 per month. That's what made the difference to you? $16? Seriously? I spend more than that on Coke.

Dave: $15/month is enough to afford the monthly payments for financing on an inexpensive laptop.

Sorry, but I'd rather a kid be able to afford a laptop that (s)he wouldn't otherwise have rather than the money going to admins and expensive building projects.

I've noticed that most of the "vote yes" people generally use the fuzzy thinking like "think of the kids!!!" whereas the "vote no" people seem to have some sort of detailed critical analysis involving questions like "what is the money actually being spent on? do we need to cut the music teacher or can we make the administrators share a pay cut instead of affecting the kids?"