It’s Election Day, in case you didn’t know.
There are three major ballot proposals before voters along
the Lakeshore today. West Ottawa schools are asking for passage of a $98
million bond request, while Saugatuck schools has its second bond question in
as many First Tuesday in Mays, this time for around $40 million after a $51
million ask was denied last spring. Both of those proposals for building
improvements and expansions, among other things, come with no millage increase.
The Holland Community Aquatic Center is asking voters living
within the confines of the Holland Public School District to approve a $26.3
million bond request that does include a quarter of a mill hike. It’s not a
district request, for the HCAC is a separate entity, but the district
boundaries are used for voting purposes.
Interestingly, despite the millage increase for the Aquatic
Center and the nearly nine-figure bond request in West Ottawa, it’s the
Saugatuck proposal that appears to be getting the most blowback opposition.
Those who are against it are using emails and a website to spread its word, but
just like the nebulous “Great Lakes First Fund” that failed to boost Daniela
Garcia to a GOP state Senate nomination last August, the opposition to the
Saugatuck schools’ request have hid behind proverbial curtains and apparently
refused to publicly step out and be recognized for their dissent. So much for public transparency, I guess.
There are other ballot issues in other area communities (
YES, I DID HEAR YOU ZEELAND PUBLIC
SCHOOLS!!!
), but these are for renewals of the 18-mill non-homestead levy.
I don’t count these as contested exercises, for those who would probably be opposed
to such levies can’t vote on them because
they
don’t live in the district
, and it’s easy to “pass the buck” for residents
on this, so any rejections of these renewals would be a massive news story.
Therefore, it’s easy to overlook these proposals in any election discussion,
and I have thus done so – with no regrets.
Anyway, we should have results
on all of the ballot issues
this evening online and
during the Tigers’ broadcast on air. At least we should have results in ballots counted in
Ottawa County.
When I mentioned on the air today that this may not be the immediate case in Allegan County, where the history of getting election results before the dawn of the next day has
been checkered (to put it mildly) in recent years, Clerk Bob Genetski (a loyal
Morning News listener) tweeted, “Ouch, tell Gary Stevens that tonight‘s
election results in Allegan County will be available at a very decent hour.”
Of course, the term “a very decent hour” could be debatable, but Peg had the best retort to that: “We don’t know why he’s needling you, Bob. Peg’s the one
staying up for results.”
Even Genetski liked that tweet.
By the way, I won't be voting today. Jenison Schools and much of Georgetown Township have no ballot issues this time around (Hudsonville Schools does, but that's
another
18-mill non-homestead tax renewal request).
Thanks!
