Copyright M Live Michigan
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Residents in Washtenaw County have reasons to cast their votes Tuesday, Nov. 4. A new tax to support career and technical education programming in local schools within the Washtenaw Intermediate School District is on the ballot for voters across the county. There are also tax proposals in Chelsea, as well as open seats for mayor and three city council seats. There are multiple proposals for Milan, Saline and Lima Township, as well as additional mayor and city council elections. Here’s a guide to contested races and ballot proposals in Washtenaw County. $25M tax for career and technical education at local schools The Washtenaw Intermediate School District initiated a 1-mill tax request to fund career and technical education programming in local schools. School boards around the county signed off on the idea in May and June. The proposed tax would generate about $25 million in its first year for CTE programs. WISD officials point to the growth in enrollment and demand for CTE in Washtenaw County as a driving factor for the millage proposal. If approved, it would levy 1 mill annually over a decade, costing the owner of a home with a taxable value of $200,000 around $200 a year. Tax increase for fire services in and around Chelsea The Chelsea Area Fire Authority is asking voters to approve a .75-mill increase to the existing approximately 2.3-mill rate. The fire authority serves Chelsea and Lima, Lyndon and Sylvan townships. If approved by voters, the fire authority plans to hire an additional six firefighter- and paramedic-trained personnel. Fire authority officials say it would give them more opportunities to staff Station 2 and increase full-time personnel up to six a day. In addition, adding licensed paramedics/firefighters will allow CAFA to operate as an Advance License Support Agency. The authority also uses tax revenue to purchase vehicles and equipment. The increase is estimated to generate about $983,000 in additional revenue in the first year for fire services and equipment. If approved, the increase would expire in 2028, at the same time as the existing millage. A resident who owns a $200,000 home would pay about $75 more a year for the millage, for a total of about $309 a year. Chelsea will elect a new mayor, fill city council seats The race for mayor in Chelsea is between Julianne Chard, a retired architect and civil engineer, and Kate Henson, who currently serves on the city council. The winner will take the helm for the next four years. Incumbent Jane Pacheco is not seeking reelection. Chelsea voters will also decide which of the four city council candidates will fill three seats for the next four years. The race is between incumbent city councilmember Tony Iannelli and challengers Sam Angus, William O’Reilly and Felix Stump. Milan voters weigh candidates, library proposal Milan voters will elect a mayor and fill three city council seats. The race for mayor includes current Mayor Ed Kolar’s bid for reelection as he faces challenger Laura Russeau. Five candidates are running for the city council seats. Incumbents Christian Thompson and Shannon Dare Wayne will face off with challengers Marie Gress, Connie Harrison and Jesse Robert Nie. Milan voters will also decide whether to renew a millage for the Milan Public Library. If approved by voters, the nearly .22-mill tax levy will be used for operating and maintaining the Milan Public Library for the next seven years. The city anticipates collecting roughly $53,000 the first year if the millage is approved. A resident who owns a $200,000 home would pay about $22 a year. Milan voters will also fill two seats on the library’s board of directors for six years. The four candidates are Rodney Hill, Peter Kentes, Michelle Walters and Kelsey Winter. Saline will fill three city council seats, decide three proposals Six candidates for Saline City Council are running to fill three seats for the next three years. The race is between incumbent city councilmember Jenn Harmount and challengers Matthew Aungst, Jim Dell’Orco, Tramane Halsch, Bret Pollington and Miri Weidner. City voters will also decide three ballot proposals. If approved by city voters, a previously approved millage for improving streets, sidewalks, bicycle paths, traffic signals and other related work would continue. The city is asking voters to extend the 1-mill property tax levy for three years, 2027-2029. The current millage is set to expire in 2026. It would raise an estimated $600,000 in the first year of the renewal. A resident who owns a $200,000 home would pay about $100 a year for the millage. In addition, voters in the city will decide whether to amend the city charter. One proposed amendment would allow the city to amend procedures for scheduling an election prompted by a citizen ballot initiative, consistent with state law. The other proposed amendment would permit voter-initiated ballot referendums for certain city council actions and clarify the submission process for such ballot referendums. Proposal to allow marijuana businesses in Lima Township Voters in Lima Township will decide whether to allow marijuana businesses in the township. If approved, a citizen-initiated ballot proposal would direct the Lima Township Board of Trustees to amend a local ordinance. Commercial marijuana establishments are currently prohibited in the township. As proposed in the ballot language, the proposed change to local rules would allow two of each type of marijuana business defined by the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act of 2018. That would include two retailers, two Class-C grow operations, two microbusinesses, two processing facilities, two safety compliance facilities and two secure transporters. That does not mean that many individual establishments would come to the township, as a marijuana business could seek multiple licenses. If approved by voters, township officials would be allowed to amend the township’s ordinance, but they would not be able to prohibit marijuana businesses. A citizen’s ballot initiative group, Citizens of Lima for Cannabis, collected signatures from residents and succeeded in getting it on the ballot. It follows a previously-filed federal lawsuit against the township and officials, which was later dropped. Other races, proposals While races for mayor and city council seats in Manchester will appear on local ballots, those races are uncontested. Incumbent Mayor Patricia Vailliencourt is running unopposed. The three candidates running to fill three seats on Manchester City Council for four years are incumbents Cynthia Dresch and Steven Harvey, and candidate Amelia Woods. In addition, Herb Mahony is running unopposed for a partial term of two years. In addition, small numbers of Washtenaw County residents in South Lyon Community Schools, Stockbridge Community Schools, and Van Buren Public Schools will vote on bond proposals. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
