Tuesday is Election Day across the Upper Peninsula, with many local communities picking members to their municipal governments, and voters will decide millage requests in several areas.
In Delta County, Bay College is asking for a tax increase of just under 9-tenths of a mill…the restoration of nearly 2-tenths of a mill that the college could not collect under the Headlee Amendment…plus 7-tenths in new taxes.
College President Laura Coleman says the money would pay for energy upgrades across the Escanaba campus, and avoid large tuition increases for students. A “vote no” committee has been vocal on social media, claiming that the college already has one of the highest millage rates in the state.
In the Gwinn Community Schools, they’re trying for a second time to get a sinking fund millage passed after a proposal failed back in May. The 1-point-75 mills would set up a fund to make building upgrades and repairs.
In Iron Mountain, a proposal is on the ballot to raise taxes by 55-hundredths of a mill to pay for a school liaison police officer. There’s also seven people running for four seats on the Iron Mountain City Council.
In Menominee County, the Stephenson Area Schools are also asking for a sinking fund millage. The request is for one mill over three years, generating about 250-thousand dollars per year for building repairs and technology improvements.
In Escanaba, four people…including two incumbents…are running for seats on the city council. In Gladstone, voters will also pick two members to the city commission…with two incumbents and two challengers on the ballot…and there’s an advisory vote for the title of “mayor”.
In Manistique, it’s a crowded field as seven people run for three seats on the city council. Two incumbents are running for re-election.
And in Marquette, there are four people running for two seats on the city commission…plus there are two write-in candidates.
Polls are open until 8:00 p.m, local time. Watch for updates as the numbers come in on Radioresultsnetwork.com.
