Voters Support Special Education Millage

Saline and Milan area voters joined the rest of Washtenaw County in throwing their support behind the Intermediate School District’s Special Education Millage.

Unofficial results show that more than 75 percent of the voters who cast ballots in Tuesday’s election supported the seven-year renewal of the .985-mill tax.

As a result, owner of a $150,000 home will continue to pay approximately $74 in property taxes annually to support the millage.

More than 15 percent of Saline Area Schools students—748—are receiving special education services or are under evaluation. The millage is worth $1.3 million annually to the district, which is already straining to meet a $5.9 million budget shortfall for next year.

Superintendent Scot Graden thanked everyone who voted.

“I am very pleased with the results. This is an important source of support for providing critical services. Given the overall financial challenges we are facing, it would have been devastating if this had not passed,” Graden said. “It is great to see the overwhelming support for the renewal.”

According to the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, state and federal laws require school districts to provide special education services until the age of 26, but state and federal funding covers just 34 percent of the cost. The Washtenaw ISD covers about 37 percent of the costs and area school districts pick up 17 percent of the tab. Without the millage, which helps with about 12 percent of the cost, districts like Saline would have had to shoulder a greater portion of the cost.

About seven of 112 precincts are still to be counted.