Berkley voters reject police, fire request; W. Bloomfield's $148M school plan OK'd

Voters in two Oakland County communities on Tuesday rejected property tax millage proposals focused on police services, while voters in certain other Metro Detroit communities were approving school improvement bond issues and Headlee override votes on school operating taxes.

In Berkley, voters rejected a 3.46 mill Headlee override millage for operating expenses, including police and fire with all precincts reporting. The property tax would have generated $2.55 million in the first year, beginning this year.

About 53% of voters opposed the property tax override while 47% approved of it, according to unofficial results from the Oakland County clerk's office.

In Keego Harbor, a controversial proposed charter amendment to increase the police millage was rejected. In a 57%-43% vote, voters opposed replacing an existing 3.62 mills police millage ending in 2026 with one that would have been increased to 7 mills in a seven-year millage through 2029.

But other proposals focused on schools were performing better. Voters in the West Bloomfield school district approved a proposed $148 million bond issue for 10 years with 58% voting yes and 42% opposed.

More: Southeast Michigan election results for May, 2, 2023.

West Bloomfield's school improvement bond proposal was one of seven school bond plans being offered in Metro Detroit and one of three totaling more than $100 million.

The approved funding will help replace two existing elementary schools at West Bloomfield's Sheiko and Doherty campuses; build additions at other schools throughout the district; upgrade infrastructure at West Bloomfield High School and improve Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) spaces as well as outdoor multi-activity spaces; and create dedicated early childhood space at both preschool-second grade school buildings.

Both elementary schools are over a half-century old and aren't built to serve preschool students, provide collaboration spaces or serve students with special needs, Superintendent Dania Bazzi said. The proposal won't raise the current bond millage of 6.15 mills, Bazzi said.

Some parents in Keego Harbor, which is part of the West Bloomfield district, opposed the bond proposal.

Many parents in Keego Harbor, which is in the West Bloomfield School District, are opposing the plan because a 2017 bond issue they thought would benefit their neighborhood school, Roosevelt Elementary, hasn't been used to fix the ceiling of Roosevelt, which collapsed in June 2022, causing its closure. Money to repair the original building are not included in this bond proposal, Bazzi said.

In another big ticket proposal, Oakland County voters in the Northville Public Schools district supported a $134.4 million bond for 22 years to repair and upgrade school facilities. Oakland voters gave the plan 71% support to 29% opposition.

In Wayne County, where the district also has residents, 71.83% supported the measure while 28.17% voted no, according toresults posted after midnight Wednesday.

In Novi Township, 86% of voters approved a 0.73 mill proposal for access to the city of Novi's library system, according to unofficial results.

On ballot in Macomb Co.

Voters approved the largest ballot question in Metro Detroit's Tuesday election, Utica Community Schools' $550 million school bond proposal to overhaul school buildings and athletic fields and purchase school buses. The proposal was approved 69%-31% with all precincts reporting.

The proposal in Michigan's second largest district would also fund new technology equipment and prioritize safety improvements, such as removing the open concept design in many of the district's schools.

An evaluation of the Utica district, which has roughly 26,000 students and 44 buildings, found the district had $1.4 billion in needs but chose to develop the $550 million bond proposal to avoid tax increases, Superintendent Robert Monroe said.  "We're well over a 50-year average of the age of our schools and some of them are just really getting close to nearing the end of their useful life," he said, adding that the property tax for bonds would not increase.

But some members of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance have concerns, said Macomb Township Treasurer Leon Drolet.

"They target what the maximum amount of dollars they can get out of the residents," Drolet said. "They feel as long as they can say it's not an increase, it has a good chance of passing."

Voters also approved a Utica district request for a Headlee override vote that would effectively lock in an 18 mill levy on nonhomestead properties, such as businesses, second homes and rental units for 20 years. The override was backed by 69% of voters. The millage represents $41 million in annual funding to maintain academic programs and services.

A $59 million bond proposal over 25 years for Fraser Public Schools was approved 62%-38%. The plan is to remodel school buildings, install technology, build an addition to the high school stadium and buy school buses.

In Wayne County, voters approved a Lincoln Park School District Headlee override for nonhomestead properties like businesses and rental properties 73%-27%, locking in an 18 mill levy over 20 years.

Woodhaven-Brownstown School District voters separately approved renewing an 18 mill levy for for nine years in a 75% to 25% vote.

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