It isn’t unusual for communities to pass a millage for their school district, but Wayne County voters did something relatively unusual this election day. Voters approved a tax to raise funding for every public school in the county.
The millage is expected to increase funding by about $385 per student every year over the next six years.
It is going to mean different things in different districts. Schools can spend the money as they please.
Seven Action News spoke to the Superintendent of the Wayne-Westland District. She says it will help the district address the teacher shortage, offer more competitive pay to retain staff, and replace aging school buses.
The Superintendent of Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency says the vote should send a message to Lansing that voters want more funding for schools.
“They need to look at that as a policy issue at the state. So hopefully this can tide us over until there is areal fix in state funding in the state of Michigan," said Randy Liepa, Superintendent of the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency.
"To be able to give every student what they need is what we want to do and you need resources to do that," said Michele Harmala, Wayne-Westland School s Superintendent
The millage will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $96 a year.
