Voters Turn Down Bond Proposal

Saline Area School District voters said no to the district’s proposal to borrow $22 million to improve school facilities.

The proposal was turned down, 2,563-2,040.

A larger, $28 million version of the proposal was previously turned down in August with a vote that ended up 2,782-2,269.

Saline Mayor Pro-Tem Brian Marl, chairman of the Team Saline campaign in favor of the bond proposal, said he was terribly disappointed in the result.

“But we respect the outcome and the prerogative of the citizens of the school district,” said Marl. “We believe this decision may have an adverse impact on the quality of education we provide for students. Quite frankly, I am surprised by the results. But our opposition should be congratulated for running a strong campaign.”

Attempts to reach members of the We Can't Afford It campaign were unsuccessful.

School officials said they were disappointed in the results and must now figure out a way to pay for millions of dollars in facility improvements in the aftermath of Gov. Rick Snyder budget plan that would leave the district $3.5 million in the hole.

“It’s certainly going to be a challenging spring for us as we look to build the 2011-12 school budget and try to protect what we have,” Superintendent Scot Graden said. “We’ve got new information from the state where it’s very clear what we’ll have from a capital standpoint. As we build next year’s budget, we’re going to have to make some very difficult choices relative to some of the infrastructure needs we have.”

Graden and Board of Education President Chuck Lesch both said they didn’t see the district putting a similar bond proposal in front of the voters for a third time.

“Certainly it’s clear that the voters in the community didn’t feel it was an appropriate time for this. My sense is that it is doubtful we’ll be seeing a bond proposal from Saline Area Schools any time soon,” Graden said.

Lesch concurred.

“It’s disappointing. We will move forward one way or the other. But I would be surprised if we considered putting this issue on the ballot again,” Lesch said. “I think something drastic would have to happen for that to occur. One of the reasons we believed it was imperative to approve the proposal this time around was because we wouldn’t be able to qualify for a state-qualified bond after this election, so the cost of borrowing money would increase.”

Almost 75 percent of the $22 million would have been spent on “critical needs,” such as new roofs, plumbing and energy upgrades. The district was also planning to use the money to upgrade one of the oldest bus fleets in the county.

Other proposed improvements included computer replacements, a new wireless network, kitchen upgrades, security enhancements and site work.

PRECINCT NAME

YES

NO

Bridgewater Township, Precinct 1

 13

 29

Lodi Township, Precinct 1

 354

 626

Pittsfield Charter Township, Precinct 1

 64

 49

Pittsfield Charter Township, Precinct 8

 291

 208

Pittsfield Charter Township, Precinct 9

 138

 106

City of Saline, Precinct 1 & 2

 347

 331

City of Saline, Precinct 3

 216

 189

City of Saline, AVCB 1

 164

 383

Saline Township, Precinct 1

 78

 185

York Township, Precinct 2 & 3

 375

 457

Totals

2040
44.32%

2563
55.68%

Source: http://electionresults.ewashtenaw.org/feb2011/canvassreport3.html