Election turnout steady in Washtenaw County; results could come by midnight
The proposed Washtenaw County schools enhancement millage is bringing voters to the polls today, but not in droves.
Matt Yankee, acting director of elections for Washtenaw County, characterized the flow of voters as "fairly steady" based on his conversations with city, village and township clerks throughout the day.
In Lodi Township, turnout is estimated at about 20 percent, with a less than two hours remaining until the polls close at 8 p.m.
Voters today will decide the fate of a 2-mill, five-year schools enhancement millage that would raise $30 million countywide per year. The millage would cost the owner of the home with a $100,000 taxable value $200 per year.
School districts are threatening mid-year layoffs and program cuts if the hike fails. Opponents of the millage have complained school districts failed to provide adequate allocation details and haven't enacted enough cost-cutting measures to justify a hike.
Based on estimates taken at noon, about 15 percent of Ann Arbor voters had turned up to cast ballots, Ann Arbor City Clerk Jacqueline Beaudry said.
The University of Michigan College Democrats is reporting voting in record numbers at student precincts across campus. The group attributes the rise in turnout to its increased get-out-the-vote-efforts in key student precincts.The UMCD led a campaign encouraging students to vote in support of Proposal I, the Washtenaw County School Enhancement Millage.
“We want students to know their voices matter—especially on the local issues that affect them most," said Samuel Marvin, chair of UMCD.
When polls close, clerks from each precinct will remove the memory cards from tabulator machines and drive them to the Washtenaw County administration building at 200 N. Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor. Election software reads the memory cards, then counts and uploads the votes to the eWashtenaw site.
The results will counted in full by midnight in a best case scenario, Yankee said.
Washtenaw County school lines overlap with Livingston, Wayne, Monroe and Jackson counties, Yankee said. Polling places in those areas should fax results in tonight, but they technically have until 11 a.m. tomorrow to hand over results.
Interested parties can also call (734) 222-6730 for results.
Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
Ronnie67
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 9:30 p.m.
To WL Parent: Agreed....What I was saying is that if you want your children to participate in extra-curricular activities, sports or otherwise, parents should be prepared to fund the activity. Obviously $75.00 is not going to go very far so that will have to be worked out. If I don't have a child participating, why should I be required to pay?
WLParent
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 9:22 p.m.
Dan, regarding lotto funding... lotto money does go to education, but it is a joke.... The State of Michigan determines how much they are going to fund education with out of the general fund. Then, when the lotto monies are counted and put into Education, whatever lotto money goes in, they put back the exact amount into the General Fund. So, the only thing lotto money does is lessens the amount of money the state needs to take out of the general fund. It NEVER increases the education funding - which is what most people are wrongly lead to believe. In all reality, all money goes to the state because whatever money is put in by the lotto is just money saved by the state's general fund.
Ronnie67
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 9:18 p.m.
To dan obryan: The lotto's promised share is 680 million dollars a year, which they do contribute. The public school budget is 12 billion dollars, quite a shortfall.
WLParent
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 9:17 p.m.
Ronnie - Many schools have adopted a "pay-to-play" policy. As I stated, at Whitmore Lake, students pay $75 per sport. With that being said, dropping sports is not the answer. There have been a lot of comments on various blogs that we should not be funding sports; however, studies have shown that kids who are involved in sports are more likely to stay in school. Also, kids who are active do better in school, and students who feel like they belong in school (sports), have a higher graduation rates. Therefore, if a school drops sports and loses 10 students (higher in larger districts) because of it, there goes $80,000 or more (depending upon which school) in school funding. It would cost much less to fund the sport. Furthermore, because of AYP, reduced graduation rates can mean funding penalties. This is just a few of the reasons why it does NOT make sense to remove sports from schools. For some students, it is the only thing keeping them in school and staying out of trouble.
dan obryan
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 9:13 p.m.
michgan lotto.was suppose to do help fund schools.what happened
Ronnie67
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 8:54 p.m.
The 1st thing that should be cut are the 'extra-cirricular' activities. If your child wants to participate in a sport or activity, be prepared to fund it yourself, don't ask your neighbor to pay for it too. Take the football program for example.....what is the cost of the play-offs? Transportation, motel/hotels, meals, etc. Start your cuts right there, when the economy gets stronger and jobs return to the democratically-decimated Michigan economy, maybe we can re-instate the foolishness.
Tom Bower
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 8:51 p.m.
Dr. I. Emsayin, Please provide us with data supporting your claims: " This county is losing highly qualified teachers to other suburbs in and out of state where the pay is better..."
Dr. I. Emsayin
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 8:45 p.m.
I was talking to a public school teacher today. She makes about 50K, is in the process of earning a Master's degree, which will cost her about 35K, for which she will get a 2K pay raise. She can not afford to live in the city in which she teaches. Having teachers live in the town in which they teach gives them a home town advantage: pupils like seeing their teachers in town, at local events, each town has its own hometown feeling and it helps when teachers are part of that fabric. We can urge teachers to take a pay cut or never get a raise again, but those who will become teachers in those districts, will not be living there, and they will be less committed to the town. This county is losing highly qualified teachers to other suburbs in and out of state where the pay is better and the voters less contentious.
Tom Bower
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 8:32 p.m.
"In Lodi Township, turnout is estimated at about 20 percent, with a less than two hours remaining until the polls close at 8 p.m." When I voted at the Farm Council Grounds in Lodi Township at 6 p.m. the machine count was 1464 and the room was filled with voters. According to Washtenaw County there are 4466 registered voters in Lodi Township. I guess the 20 percent estimate is a bit low. I estimate the turnout in Lodi will be 40-45 percent.
WLParent
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 8:31 p.m.
Jimmy Olsen - Do I believe only teaching basics will put kids into Juvy... no! However, I do believe that if this millage fails, class sizes will continue to increase. Many classes at my child's school (Whitmore Lake) are well over 30. Teachers do their best to reach ALL students in their classrooms (Say what you would like about teachers, but this has been my experience at our small school.); it makes it extremely difficult to do this when classrooms are packed. Therefore, I believe we will see higher dropouts in our schools. Further, it is those "elective" courses that often keep kids interested in school and keep them there. Higher dropouts mean higher costs in other areas such as increased crime, juvy, welfare, etc. Many people here like to make blanket statements about teachers, schools, and admins because that has been their experience at AA. This millage will NOT mean increased pay rates at our school, but it will merely keep us above water. Our school has cut bussing to the regional career center, cut the art program at the high school level, cut our alternative ed. program, teachers have switched to a lower cost insurance, teachers have been laid off, hours have been cut for other staff, our students pay $75.00 per sport they participate in, etc. This is just a small sample of the cuts that have been made. So, to say that the school is pushing the millage purely for pay raises is downright ignorant. Please do some research on surrounding schools before you lump them all in to one. This isn't to say that I agree with your AA statements; I have no clue what is going on in that district. I do stay actively involved in my district and try to stay on top of what is going on. Last, I applaud your decision to become involved at Board of Ed. meetings. I encourage ALL parents to become involved, not just when money is an issue. The more voices that are heard, the better our school systems will become.
Jimmy Olsen
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:59 p.m.
WLParent..... this is a joke, correct? Education is an investment...spend the $ now or spend it later (crime, substance abuse, welfare, health, etc.......). All this will "invest" in is more teacher raises and continued benefits beyond the reach of most of us taxpayers. I guess cutting back and only teaching the basics that the state requires will put everyone into juvy?? Get a clue.... I'm glad I voted no and will be at the next board meeting if it passes demanding that the money be accounted for - it will all go for salary and benefits - the MEA train keeps on rolling.......
MikeyP
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:55 p.m.
I went, I saw... I voted no on WISD. Nice that they got the students to the polls, you know, the people who will be leaving in three years or less and won't be paying the taxes they're voting for should they pass. Spending other people's money is FUN!
Ronnie67
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:43 p.m.
Goody, Goody, Goody Bo Beat Woody Ho, Ho, Ho I Voted NO
icegoalie
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:40 p.m.
Yep all the people who voted no will be the first ones to complain when their kid is in a class of 50, has music & art programs cut or heaven forbid sports programs cut.
pickbits
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:35 p.m.
I voted yes, and am optimistic about the results tonight.
AAJoker
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:31 p.m.
I'm proud to say I voted no, it's time AAPS started managing the school within their budget per student (which is higher than all surrounding areas!). Consolidate, negotiate and eliminate!
peihaha
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:30 p.m.
For those voted NO, are you punishing the government or are you punishing the children? The millage increase is to maintain the current programs, NOT to increase or add any new programs.
C. Alfaro
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:11 p.m.
Yes Yes Yes I live in the community and education is the most important thing we can do with our taxes. To vote against your schools is frightening to me. Sort of another No No NO but without alternatives. Sure administers make good salaries, that issue needs to be addressed separately but not to the deficit of teachers and students.
shawnsbrain
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:10 p.m.
With any common sense being used. This one will go down in flames. I have posted many inside views where money is being wasted. Yes, I do have a child in the schools and have witnessed abject laziness on the part of parents and school officials. Time to quit feeding at the public trough and ante up in terms of effort and involvement. For those of you who lean left, Thanks for putting this moron back in office in Lansing. She is trying to blackmail you. Maybe next time you will vote smarter.
Jonny Spirit
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:08 p.m.
Me and 5 of my friends just got back and we all voted YES. Car pooling is the way to go.
MjC
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 7:07 p.m.
My vote on the WISD millage was no - but deep down I know it will pass because voter turn-out will be low. I'm a strong supporter of our schools, but this is the wrong millage to support. We could have done better - much better.
PaperTiger
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:57 p.m.
Vote NO, especially for Saline Area Schools. The teachers DO NOT PAY FOR BENEFITS, and got a raise recently. Get with it, Administration, and sacrifice like the rest of us, and learn to live within your budget. Period.
WLParent
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:48 p.m.
"Money spent on the education of my children and the children in my community is money well spent (NOT IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING LIKE THE VOTE NO SIGNS SAY)!!! Education is an investment...spend the $ now or spend it later (crime, substance abuse, welfare, health, etc.......) My children have the most dedicated teachers around....in my opinion they are highly UNDERPAID!!!!!" I couldn't agree more! And, I also voted "yes" today!
Contributor
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:47 p.m.
I voted NO! I am tired of adminsitrators lining their own pockets at teh expense of our children. Sending more money into our schools will only reward the thiefs and liars, not the students. As painful as the short term consequences may be, the time is right to just say "No more!"
48104
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:40 p.m.
Haha, I went out and voted YES YES YES.
dwa
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:30 p.m.
Money spent on the education of my children and the children in my community is money well spent (NOT IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING LIKE THE VOTE NO SIGNS SAY)!!! Education is an investment...spend the $ now or spend it later (crime, substance abuse, welfare, health, etc.......) My children have the most dedicated teachers around....in my opinion they are highly UNDERPAID!!!!!
anonamoose
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:24 p.m.
Double Yes!!!
mytwocents
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:23 p.m.
I'll bite. YES, YES, YES!
MCC
Tue, Nov 3, 2009 : 6:21 p.m.
Get out and VOTE NO on the WISD millage. We need every vote!! NO, NO, NO