HOLLAND (WHTC) — With millions of dollars on the line in Ottawa and Allegan counties’ fewer than 25 percent of the voters registered cast ballots on bond (building) and millage (operating) questions.
Among the big winners: MAX Transit Authority, which saw 3,116 yes votes (to 692 no votes) for a 5-year, .4-mil renewal, valued at an estimated of $906,863 in 2017. The millage provides about 20 percent of the agency’s annual operating budget.
Among the big losers, though by a narrow margin: Laketown Township, which sought a 16-year millage valued at $8,680,000 for creating a fiber optic internet infrastructure. Of the 1,850 votes in the township’s three precincts, 982 said no to the 872 who voted yes.
Of the school questions, all operating renewal proposals passed:
- Zeeland Public Schools’ request for a 1-year, 18-mil renewal received overwhelming support, more than 75 percent, from Ottawa County, with 1,643 voting yes and 500 voting no; the decision was tighter Allegan County’s 67 voters splitting the decision 35 to 32 for the millage.
- Hudsonville Public Schools: A one-year, 18-mil renewal, valued at $4.1 million in 2016. Just two voters cast ballots in Salem Township and both said no. But more of Ottawa County’s 2,846 voters said yes, by a 1,907 to 939 final count.
- West Ottawa Public Schools: A one-year, 18-mil renewal valued at an estimated $11,422,000 got the nod from 1,982 of the 2,676 voters who cast ballots.
- More than 75 percent of the 3,037 Grand Haven voters approve the school district’s one-year, 18-mil renewal, expected to bring in an estimated $16,714,949, with 2,303 voting yes and 734 voting no.
- Grandville Public Schools’ request for a 10-year (2107-26) 1.4-mil renewal, expected to bring in $2,113,795 in 2017 drew 349 Ottawa County voters to the polls, with 201 voting yes to 148 no votes. Kent County voters 2435 757
School districts’ winning to bond requests for capital improvements (building and equipment) also all passed:
- Hamilton Community Schools’ 30-year, $22,670,000 bond garnered 919 yes votes in Allegan County communities and 542 no votes while the 48 Ottawa County voters split 35 yes votes to 13 no votes.
- Jenison Public Schools heard a resounding yes for a 25-year bond proposal valued at $25,335,000, with 5,259 voters turning out and 3,359 (63 percent) voting yes.
- Sparta Area Schools’ 30-year, $58,620,000 bond drew 82 Ottawa County voters and 48 said no; Kent County voters felt otherwise, barely, with 1,130 saying yes to 1,063 voting no — for a combined total of 1,164 yes votes to 1,111 no votes
- A combined 2,357 yes votes to 1,283 no votes passed Kenowa Hills Public Schools’ request for a 29-year, $55,240,000 bond; 276 Ottawa County residents voted against it while 236 voted for it. But 2,121 Kent County voters said yes, to 1,007 no votes.
