Washtenaw County real estate firm donates $100,000 in anti-millage campaign

The 2-mill, five-year schools enhancement millage was defeated by a wide margin Nov. 3. It would have raised $30 million countywide per year, costing the owner of the home with a $100,000 taxable value $200 annually. 

School districts said the failure of the millage would mean mid-year layoffs and program cuts, while opponents argued school districts didn't provide adequate allocation details or enact enough cost-cutting measures to justify a hike.

The main opposition group, Citizens for Responsible Washtenaw, lists its treasurer as Albert Berriz, McKinley president and CEO. That group spent $95,887, compared to $56,726 spent by two millage proponent groups. 

Citizens for Responsible Washtenaw raised a total of $101,469 and used most of its money on advertising and printing.

Berriz said the group's goal was to get the word out through different channels and volunteer support. He struck down rumors that outside consultants were used. 

Berriz said the group employed local businesses and ran a grassroots campaign with volunteer groups from all over the county going door-to-door, hosting townhall sessions at coffee shops and distributing ads.

Prior to the election, Berriz pushed school leaders to improve districts' finances internally and argued higher taxes would hurt struggling Washtenaw County families.

"I think it's now up to the individual school districts in those communities to really evaluate how they're going to create a sustainable funding mechanism for the schools going forward," he said.

Data from 2008 shows McKinley employed 450 people and reported annual revenues of $237.2 million. The company's owner, Ron Weiser, is chair of the Michigan Republican Party and a top property owner in Washtenaw County.

Some officials have accused Berriz of being motivated in his anti-millage efforts by the additional taxes it would have cost McKinley. Berriz told AnnArbor.com today that he didn't immediately know the taxable value of McKinley's properties in Washtenaw County and what the tax hike would have cost the company per year. Reached by cell phone, Berriz was on a Florida business trip, but said he could look those numbers up when he returned.

A second opposition group, Citizens for Responsible School Spending, filed a campaign finance report waiver prior to the election, saying it intended to raise and spend under $1,000. Groups who spend under that limit aren't obligated to reveal contributors. A third opposition group from Manchester filed a report indicating it raised no money.

Two groups that fought for the millage collected many small contributions from individuals, with the largest donation - $3,000 - from a teachers' union.

Citizens Millage Committee, based in Ann Arbor, raised cash from Ann Arbor residents. Records obtained today show the group raised and spent $33,896, mostly on mailings and various advertisements. The group also received $1,568 in donations of goods and services, including pencils and meeting space rental.

Friends of Education, based in Dexter, also ran a fundraising campaign to support the millage. Its coffers maxed out at $23,806, and the group spent all but $1,008.
Postcards and yard signs topped its spending in the weeks leading up to the election.

Contributors included most area school superintendents, many school board members, several school administrators and teachers. Firms that do business with area schools also contributed.

The biggest donation on the supporters' side was $3,000 from the teachers' union, the Ann Arbor Education Association. Former Ann Arbor School Superintendent Scott Westerman Jr. gave the largest individual donation at $1,000.

Millage proponent group leaders could not be reached for comment this evening.

Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter