By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TRENTON – Residents approved a public schools hold-harmless millage Nov. 3, 6,146 to 3,783, renewing the 2001 millage for another 20 years.
As a renewal, it is not a “new tax,” but preserves the way school taxes are currently calculated and collected in Trenton.
The millage will generate about $1.2 million, which is 18 percent of the district’s budget. Without its passage, the district would have faced significant cuts in services.
With the 1994 passage of Proposal A, Trenton was among the districts which received decreased funding from the state. To correct this financial shortfall, districts were permitted to put a “hold harmless” millage before voters which would allow the assessment of taxes to make up for the loss of state funding.