By GABRIEL GOODWIN
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE — May 6 is still the official date for voters to decide on the city’s proposed five-year, 3-mill general operating millage, but the council is set to make its decision on a new date at its council meeting Monday.
The decision was held in abeyance, for three weeks, at the last council meeting of 2013 because it was a late agenda item and the council wanted time to consider the potential savings for the city.
Councilwoman Sherri Sutherby-Fricke proposed the date change because the city would not be able to share the cost with the Board of Education and the special election could cost the city about $15,000. The decision would have been made during the city’s Jan. 6 meeting, but that meeting was cancelled due to a winter weather advisory.
One date being considered by the council is the Aug. 5 primary election date. At a previous council meeting, councilors were unsure if the city could hold a special election at the same time as a statewide election, but the Michigan Election Division confirmed the city could combine those elections with the City Clerk’s office.
The clarification allows the city to hold the special election with no additional expense to the city and share the canvassing costs with Wayne County.
City Clerk William Griggs said the only discrepancy the council still faces in its decision is whether it needs four votes to amend the original date set or the super majority vote of five.
The Wyandotte Public Schools decided to move forward with its two-part millage proposal to the voters in a February election. The district will ask voters to approve a renewal of an 18-mill, non-homestead tax and a 1-mill amendment that would be used only if the state equalized value of the properties the tax is levied against drops below the estimated revenue of the original 18 mills.
District Business Manager Kenneth Laub said the 18-mill proposal is critical to the school district because it “means the difference of about $3.1 million in revenue.”
The school board also will hold an election Nov. 4 for new members. Anyone interested in running for a spot on the board should contact the city clerk’s office to learn the requirements.
(Gabriel Goodwin can be reached at [email protected])