Vote Yes!

Special Education Millage Renewal

Tuesday, May 3

A yes vote will not increase your tax rate.

This election is a renewal. The tax levied is 0.985 mills, which is slightly less than one tenth of one percent of taxable value.

Taxable value is no more than one-half of market value. For example, if your home is worth $200,000, you are paying about $99/year. This renewal will raise about $14 million per year for 7 years to educate and serve K-12 special education students in Washtenaw County. Of this, Ann Arbor Public Schools receive about $6 million per year.

A yes vote is a vote yes for all students.

Voting yes will prevent an extra $6 million in cuts in the Ann Arbor Public Schools budget for 2011-12 ~

A budget that is already facing $15 million in projected deficits.

Since special education services are mandated by the government, the district will be required to dip deeper into its operating budget to cover special education services if the millage renewal does not pass. The Ann Arbor Public Schools has already cut $34 million over the past 5 years. The district has minimized budget reductions in classrooms but this will no longer be possible with the loss of millions of dollars in revenue. The special education millage renewal allows the Ann Arbor Public Schools to better support the education of all students.

A yes vote supports a nonpartisan ballot issue.

Voting yes is not about party politics… politics had nothing to do with putting this renewal on the ballot. It is about educating our kids and making our community a stronger, more compelling place to live. And this millage renewal touches real lives. One out of every 8 Ann Arbor students receives special education services that are improving his or her prospects for a better life.

 

Have questions? Want to donate?

Visit www.washtenawfriends.org

Friends of Education

P.O. Box 157

Dexter, MI 48130