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Millage Renewals and Increases Successful while Marijuana Business Proposals Fall Short in November 5 Election

Michael Spence

Michael Spence

Michael Spence is the Government Affairs Manager at SEMCOG. In the 2000s, while earning his master’s in public administration, he supported SEMCOG's communications and local government operations work. With a newly-minted MPA in-hand, he worked as a local government manager in Northern Michigan. In 2015, he returned to Southeast Michigan – and SEMCOG – to lead the region's legislative advocacy and government finance/operations work.

City hall outside view of building

Southeast Michigan voters broadly supported local ballot proposals in the November 5 election, with 84 (79%) of the total 99 ballot measures passing in the seven-county region. The approval rate was slightly higher, with 352 (82%) of 429 ballot proposals passing statewide.

Here are the overall results for millage and ballot proposals in Southeast Michigan:

Overall results

  • Total passed: 78, 78.8%
  • Total failed: 21, 21.2%

Renewals of existing millages were popular among the region’s voters, with funding extended at current levels for Intermediate School District (ISD) Operations, Libraries, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Roads, School Operations, and “Other” millages. Overall, renewals of existing millages passed at a rate of 95% in the region.

“ISD Operating Millage Renewal” Results

  • Total passed: 1, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“Library Millage Renewal” Results

  • Total passed: 2, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“Other Millage Renewal” Results

  • Total passed: 4, 66.7%
  • Total failed: 2, 33.3%

“Parks and Recreation Millage Renewal” Results

  • Total passed: 1, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“Public Safety Millage Renewal” Results

  • Total passed: 3, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“Road Millage Renewal” Results

  • Total passed: 7, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“School Operating Millage Renewal” Results

  • Total passed: 15, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

Results were slightly more mixed regarding millage increases for public services, with voters approving 75% of the proposed millage increases across the region. All four of the “Other” millage increases proposed in the region were rejected by voters. These proposals included millages to support Headlee rollbacks, general operations, and pathway/trail construction and maintenance.

“Library Millage Increase” Results

  • Total passed: 3, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“Other Millage Increase” Results

  • Total passed: 0, 0.0%
  • Total failed: 4, 100.0%

“Parks and Recreation Millage Increase” Results

  • Total passed: 5, 83.3%
  • Total failed: 1, 16.7%

“Public Safety Millage Increase” Results

  • Total passed: 10, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“Road Millage Increase” Results

  • Total passed: 4, 80.0%
  • Total failed: 1, 20.0%

“Senior Services Millage Increase” Results

  • Total passed: 8, 100.0%
  • Total failed: 0, 0.0%

“Sinking Fund Millage Increase” Results

  • Total passed: 5, 62.5%
  • Total failed: 3, 37.5%

Only one of the eight “Marijuana Business Proposals” in the region was approved by voters. These proposals would have allowed for the est

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