By Robert Tomlinson
News Director
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Two major millage renewals on the November ballot around St. Joseph County were approved by voters Tuesday.
Countywide, voters overwhelmingly approved the county’s 911 services operating millage renewal and reduction, while in the Constantine Public Schools district, their operating millage renewal was approved by a slimmer margin of victory.
For the 911 renewal, 89.42 percent of voters (6,278 votes) voted in favor of the millage, while only 10.58 percent (743 votes) were against the millage.
With its passage, the millage will be renewed for five years at a reduced millage rate of 0.9 mills, a decrease of 0.0864 from this year’s millage.
As previously reported, the funds gained from the millage helps pay for personnel, upkeep of its radio system and towers, the infrastructure for 911 services, any software or computer systems dispatchers use to answer and dispatch 911 calls, and its text-to-911 service.
St. Joseph County 911 Director Stacey Bower said in an interview Wednesday she was glad to see the renewal pass, and sees the margin as a sign that the department has been good stewards of taxpayers’ money.
“I am glad that it passed, because we can move forward with some projects we need to do. We’ve got both state-mandated radio projects we have to do, and we’re searching for some new programs that we need,” Bower said.
“I think we had decent turnout at the polls, especially for this being, at most of the polls, the only thing on the ballot. I think it really speaks volumes to the support we have out there in the community and the willingness to fund our 911 service. It wasn’t a huge reduction, but I think it showed good faith on our part that we were willing to use taxpayer dollars wisely and budget accordingly. I think it was a win-win for everybody.”
In Constantine, voters in the Constantine Public Schools district voted to approve a renewal of its operating millage, with a combined 612 people (53 percent) voting “yes” and a combined 542 people (47 percent) voting “no” between district voters in St. Joseph County and Cass County.
With the renewal, the millage will be renewed until 2032, with the millage rate raised back to the statutory maximum 18 mills for non-homestead properties in the district. The rate also includes an administrative buffer to stave off reductions from the Headlee Amendment, which reduces millage rates if property values rise faster than the rate of inflation, which will keep the millage rate at 18 mills for the next eight years. The millage currently sat at 16.7441 mills.
In a letter posted Wednesday to the district’s “Follow the Falcons” Facebook page, Superintendent Patrick Breen thanked voters for approving the renewal and making sure full funding will remain in the district.
“Your ‘yes’ vote ensures that our district continues to receive the full level of funding intended by the state to support the daily operations of our schools – including classroom instruction, student programs, and essential services,” Breen wrote. “Thank you for standing behind our schools, our staff and – most importantly – our students. Your continued commitment makes a lasting difference in the future of Constantine Public Schools.”
Residents in Burr Oak Township were eligible to vote in the Bronson Community Schools District’s bond proposal, but no votes were cast in the township. The bond passed with 900 “yes” votes (51.5 percent) and 847 “no” votes (48.5 percent), according to the Branch County Clerk’s Office.
Robert Tomlinson can be reached at 279-7488 or robert@wilcoxnewspapers.com.
