|
February 1999
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
POSTSECONDARY SERVICES
INTRODUCTION
In April 1998, the Michigan Department of
Education Postsecondary Services requested a millage history from each
of the Michigan community colleges. Data gathering was completed by September
1998.
The following report is based on information
supplied by the colleges. All of the community colleges responded to the
request, however some of the college records were incomplete and they
were unable to supply all of the data requested.
Analysis of the data was completed by Kathy
Feaster, principal of School Public Relations Consultant Services of Lansing
and Williamston, Michigan, who prepared this report.
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
MILLAGE ELECTION REPORT
At least two hundred and twenty millage proposals
were placed on the ballot by Michigan community colleges between September
1955 and June 1998, according to records provided by the colleges. (See
Appendix.) Undoubtedly there were more than 220, but some of the college
records were incomplete.
Of the two hundred and twenty proposals, 49%
were successful (107) and 51% failed (113).
In the 1950's there were
four proposals and all four passed:
3 initial operating millage
1 capital improvement/debt
In the 1960's there were
thirty-four proposals -- 79% passed (27) and 21% failed (7):
| 1960's |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Initial Operating |
19 |
3 |
22 |
| Initial Operating & Debt (Combined
Proposal) |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Additional Operating |
2 |
3 |
5 |
| Capital Improvement/Debt |
4 |
- |
4 |
| Change in Authorization |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| TOTALS |
27 |
7 |
34 |
In the 1970's there were fifty
proposals -- 30% were successful (15) and 70% failed (35):
| 1970's |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Additional Operating |
5 |
31 |
36 |
| Operating Renewal |
4 |
- |
4 |
| Operating Renewal & Additional |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Capital Improvement/Debt |
4 |
3 |
7 |
| Operating (Unknown if Additional or Renewal) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| TOTALS |
15 |
35 |
50 |
In the 1980's there were
sixty-six proposals -- 41% passed (27) and 59% failed (39):
| 1980's |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Additional Operating |
14 |
24 |
38 |
| Operating Renewal |
7 |
- |
7 |
| Operating Renewal & Additional |
1 |
- |
1
|
| Capital Improvement/Debt |
3 |
10 |
13 |
| Capital Improvement Renewal |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Operating (Unknown if Additional or Renewal) |
1 |
5 |
6 |
| TOTALS |
27 |
39 |
66 |
Between 1990 and 1993 there
were thirty-three proposals -- 45% passed (15) and 55% failed (18):
| 1990-1993 |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Initial Operating |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Additional Operating |
5 |
14 |
19 |
| Operating Renewal |
4 |
- |
4 |
| Capital Improvement/Debt |
5 |
3 |
8 |
| Headlee |
- |
1 |
1 |
| TOTALS |
15 |
18 |
33 |
In December 1993 the Governor signed the school
reform package, and on March 15, 1994 voters in Michigan passed Proposal
A, which lowered the school operating millage for qualified homesteads
to six mills, decreased the income tax to 4.4% and increased the state
sales tax to 6%. The lower property tax rates were reflected in the July
and/or December 1994 tax bills.
In 1994 there were eight proposals
-- 50% passed (4) and 50% failed (4).
| 1994 |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Initial Operating |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Additional Operating |
- |
2 |
2 |
| Operating Renewal |
3 |
- |
3 |
| Capital Improvement/Debt |
- |
2 |
2 |
| TOTALS |
4 |
4 |
8 |
Between 1995 and June, 1998
twenty-five proposals were presented to the voters -- 64% were successful
(16) and 36% failed (9):
| 1995 to June,
1998 |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Additional Operating |
7 |
7 |
14 |
| Operating Renewal |
3 |
- |
3 |
| Capital Improvement/Debt |
6 |
1 |
7 |
| Headlee |
- |
1 |
1 |
| TOTALS |
16 |
9 |
25 |
As can be seen, the percentage of successful
proposals has increased since the passage of Proposal
A.
Cumulative data shows:
| Since Proposal
A |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Additional Operating |
33 |
81 |
114 |
| Operating Renewal |
22 |
- |
22 |
| Capital Improvement/Debt |
23 |
19 |
42 |
Although the amount of millage
requested varied significantly, 60% (131) fell into the following ranges:
| Amount of Millage
Requested |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| .5 Mill |
10 |
15 |
25 |
| .75 Mill |
5 |
5 |
10 |
| 1.00 Mill |
34 |
25 |
59 |
| 1.5 Mills |
16 |
13 |
29 |
| 2.00 Mills |
1 |
5 |
6 |
| 2.5 Mills |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| TOTALS |
|
|
131 |
Of the 169 proposals where the length
of the levy was indicated 20% were for five years (34), 8% were for twenty
years (14) and 45% were requested in perpetuity (76):
| Length of the
Levy |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| 1 Year |
- |
1 |
1 |
| 2 Years |
4 |
- |
4 |
| 3 Years |
6 |
4 |
10 |
| 4 Years |
4 |
- |
4 |
| 5 Years |
16 |
18 |
34 |
| 6 Years |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| 7 Years |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| 8 Years |
2 |
-
|
2 |
| 10 Years |
7 |
5 |
12 |
| 14 Years |
- |
1 |
1 |
| 15 Years |
1 |
-
|
1 |
| 20 Years |
11 |
3 |
14 |
| 23 Years |
1 |
- |
1 |
| 25 Years |
1 |
-
|
1 |
| 30 Years |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Perpetuity |
35 |
41 |
76 |
| TOTALS |
|
|
169 |
Forty-five percent of the two hundred and
twenty proposals were scheduled in special elections (98), 14% in the
June annual elections (31), 16% in primary elections (35), 20% in the
November general elections (45) and 5% did not indicate when the elections
were held (11).
| Election Type |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
40 |
58 |
98 |
| June Annual Election |
16 |
15 |
31 |
| Primary Election |
14 |
21 |
35 |
| November General Election |
26 |
19 |
45 |
| Unknown |
11 |
- |
11 |
| TOTALS |
|
|
220 |
Forty-eight percent of the regional
community college elections passed (52) and 52% failed (57). The majority
(57%) of proposals placed on the ballot by regional community colleges
were scheduled in special elections:
| Regional Elections |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
27 |
35 |
62 |
| June Annual Election |
4 |
3 |
7 |
| Primary Election |
9 |
12 |
21 |
| November General Election |
5 |
7 |
12 |
| Unknown |
7 |
- |
7 |
| TOTALS |
52 |
57 |
109 |
Regional community colleges include: Alpena,
Bay de Noc, Glen Oaks, Gogebic, Kirtland, Lake Michigan, Mid Michigan,
Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, North Central, Northwestern Michigan, Southwestern
Michigan and West Shore.
Forty-eight percent of the suburban*
community college elections passed (32) and 52% failed (35). Eighty-five
percent of the proposals placed on the ballot by suburban community colleges
were scheduled in either November general elections (30%), special elections
(28%) or June annual elections (27%):
| Suburban
|
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
5 |
14 |
19 |
| June Annual Election |
9 |
9 |
18 |
| Primary Election |
4 |
5 |
9 |
| November General Election |
13 |
7
|
20 |
| Unknown |
1 |
- |
1 |
| TOTALS |
32 |
35 |
67 |
*Suburban community colleges include: Jackson,
Kellogg, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Schoolcraft and Washtenaw.
Fifty-two percent of the urban
community college elections passed (23) and 48% failed (21). Of the forty-four
proposals placed on the ballot by urban community colleges, 39% were scheduled
in special elections and 30% in the November general election:
| URBAN |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
8 |
9 |
17 |
| June Annual Election |
3 |
3 |
6 |
| Primary Election |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| November General Election |
8 |
5 |
13 |
| Unknown |
3 |
- |
3 |
| TOTALS |
23 |
21 |
44 |
Urban community colleges include: Delta, Grand
Rapids, Henry Ford, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Mott and Wayne.
And, a look at the twenty-five elections held
since 1995, when voters realized the effects of Proposal
A:
| Twenty-Five Elections
Since 1995 |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| .2 Mill |
1 |
- |
1 |
| .25 Mill |
1 |
- |
1 |
| .31 Mill |
1 |
-
|
1 |
| .33 Mill |
1 |
- |
1 |
| .48 Mill |
- |
1 |
1 |
| .5 Mill |
1
|
2 |
3 |
| .75 Mill |
- |
2
|
2 |
| .8 Mill |
1 |
- |
1 |
| .85 Mill |
2 |
- |
2 |
| .95 Mill |
- |
1 |
1 |
| 1.00 Mill |
4 |
1 |
5 |
| 1.25 Mills |
1 |
- |
1 |
| 1.5742 Mills |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Unknown |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| TOTALS |
16 |
9 |
25 |
| Length |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| 4 Years |
2 |
- |
2 |
| 5 Years |
- |
1 |
1 |
| 6 Years |
- |
1 |
1 |
| 7 Years |
1 |
1 |
2
|
| 8 Years |
1 |
- |
1 |
| 10 Years |
4 |
1 |
5 |
| 15 Years |
1 |
- |
1 |
| 20 Years |
3 |
- |
3 |
| Perpetuity |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| Unknown |
2 |
3 |
5 |
| TOTALS |
16 |
9 |
25 |
| Election |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
5 |
6 |
11 |
| June Annual Election |
3 |
2 |
5 |
| Primary Election |
4 |
1 |
5 |
| November General Election |
3 |
- |
3 |
| Unknown |
1 |
-
|
1 |
| TOTALS |
16 |
9 |
25 |
| Regional |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
5 |
2 |
7 |
| June Annual Election |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Primary Election |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Unknown |
1 |
-
|
1 |
| TOTALS |
8 |
2 |
10 |
| Suburban |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
- |
2 |
2 |
| June Annual Election |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| Primary Election |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| November General Election |
1 |
- |
1 |
| TOTALS |
6 |
5 |
11 |
| Urban |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Special Election |
- |
2 |
21 |
| November General Election |
2 |
- |
2 |
| TOTALS |
2 |
2 |
4 |
And, of the eight annexation
proposals placed on the ballot 50% were successful (4) and 50% failed
(4).
| Annexation |
Pass |
Fail |
Total |
| Kalamazoo |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Lake Michigan |
1 |
- |
1 |
| Lansing |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Mott |
- |
1 |
1 |
| Northwestern |
- |
1 |
1 |
| Oakland |
1 |
- |
1 |
| TOTALS |
4 |
4 |
8 |
APPENDIX
| COLLEGE |
TYPE |
RATE |
LENGTH |
PASS |
FAIL |
| Alpena |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
5 |
|
Aug-86 |
| Alpena |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
5 |
|
Apr-87 |
| Alpena |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
5 |
|
Feb-88 |
| Alpena |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
5 |
May-89 |
|
| Alpena |
Operational (renewal) |
1 |
5 |
Feb-94 |
|
| Bay de Noc |
Operational (initial) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
Nov-62 |
|
| Bay de Noc |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
Apr-68 |
|
| Bay de Noc |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
20 |
|
May-93 |
| Bay de Noc |
Capital Improve/Debt |
1 |
20 |
Jun-95 |
|
| Delta |
Operational (initial) |
0.5 |
20 |
May-58 |
|
| Delta |
Capital Improve/Debt |
1 |
20 |
May-58 |
|
| Delta |
Change in authorization |
1.5 |
N/A |
|
Aug-68 |
| Delta |
Change in authorization |
1.5 |
N/A |
Nov-68 |
|
| Delta |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
Nov-76 |
| Delta |
Operational (additional) |
0.1 |
Perpetuity |
Mar-78 |
|
| Delta |
Operational (additional) |
0.2 |
5 |
|
Aug-84 |
| Delta |
Operational (additional) |
0.2 |
5 |
|
Nov-84 |
| Delta |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
Mar-87 |
| Delta |
Operational (additional) |
0.5 |
3 |
|
Aug-88 |
| Delta |
Operational (additional) |
0.5 |
3 |
Nov-88 |
|
| Delta |
Operational (renewal) |
0.5 |
8 |
Nov-90 |
|
| Delta |
Capital Improve/Debt |
32m$ |
N/A |
|
Nov-94 |
| Delta |
Operational (renewal) |
0.5 |
8 |
Nov-96 |
|
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (initial) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
Jun-65 |
|
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
2 |
Perpetuity |
|
Apr-69 |
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
2 |
Perpetuity |
|
Aug-70 |
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
2 |
Perpetuity |
|
Aug-71 |
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Feb-72 |
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Jun-72 |
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
Jun-83 |
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
May-86 |
| Glen Oaks |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
Mar-87 |
|
| Glen Oaks |
Headley |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Jun-93 |
| Glen Oaks |
Headley |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Sep-97 |
| Gogebic |
Operational (initial) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
1965 |
|
| Gogebic |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
20 |
Mar-71 |
|
| Gogebic |
Operational (renewal) |
1.5 |
20 |
Apr-90 |
|
| Grand Rapids |
Operational (initial) |
1.9 |
Perpetuity |
1991 |
|
| Henry Ford |
Capital Improve/Debt |
0.2 |
10 |
|
Nov-94 |
| Henry Ford |
Operational (initial) |
2.5 |
10 |
Nov-94 |
|
| COLLEGE |
TYPE |
RATE |
LENGTH |
PASS |
FAIL |
| Jackson |
Operational (initial) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
Oct-63 |
| Jackson |
Operational (initial) |
1.33 |
Perpetuity |
Nov-64 |
|
| Jackson |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Nov-68 |
| Jackson |
Operational (additional) |
1.67 |
Perpetuity |
|
Feb-70 |
| Jackson |
Operational (additional) |
1.17 |
Perpetuity |
|
Aug-70 |
| Jackson |
Operational (additional) |
0.92 |
Perpetuity |
|
Mar-77 |
| Jackson |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Apr-78 |
| Jackson |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
Nov-82 |
| Jackson |
Capital Improve/Debt |
2.2 |
Perpetuity |
|
Aug-84 |
| Jackson |
Capital Improve/Debt |
2.2 |
Perpetuity |
|
Nov-84 |
| Jackson |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
Feb-87 |
| Kalamazoo |
Operational (initial) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
Aug-66 |
|
| Kalamazoo |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Sep-75 |
| Kalamazoo |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
Jun-87 |
|
| Kalamazoo |
Operational (additional) |
0.42 |
Perpetuity |
Jun-91 |
|
| Kellogg |
Operational |
1.95 |
Perpetuity |
Jun-70 |
|
| Kellogg |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
Nov-85 |
|
| Kellogg |
Operational (additional) |
0.85 |
15 |
Jun-98 |
|
| Kirtland |
Operational (initial) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
Mar-66 |
|
| Kirtland |
Operational (additional) |
0.6 |
Perpetuity |
|
Sep-72 |
| Kirtland |
Operational (additional) |
0.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Nov-85 |
| Kirtland |
Operational (additional) |
1 |
Perpetuity |
|
Mar-87 |
| Kirtland |
Operational (additional) |
0.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Oct-89 |
| Kirtland |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
|
Jan-90 |
| Kirtland |
Operational (additional) |
1.5 |
Perpetuity |
Sep-91 |
|
| Kirtland |
Capital Improve/Debt |
0.2 | |