Voters Pass Special Ed Millage Renewal

With 100% of precincts counted countywide, the Washtenaw Intermediate School District special education millage renewal has been passed with 76.87% voter approval, according to unofficial election results posted late Tuesday night on the Washtenaw County website. Voters overwhelmingly approved the millage renewal in the city of Ann Arbor. It was defeated in only a handful of precincts in the county, including Precinct 3 in Augusta Township and Precinct 2 in Northfield Township.

The tax renews an existing levy for the next seven years, and is projected to generate $14 million to support special education services in school districts across Washtenaw County. Of that amount, Ann Arbor Public Schools will be allocated around $5.7 million.

First approved in 2004 at the rate of 1 mill, the six-year millage expired after the 2010 tax season. The renewal of the special ed tax, at a rate of 0.985 mill, will extend through 2017. A tax rate of 1 mill is equivalent to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. The millage appears on tax bills under the label WISD SPEC ED.