CHICAGO – Voters across the Midwest elected new leaders, embraced the borrowing pleas of some school districts while rejecting others, and rejected a controversial marijuana initiative.
Ohio voters rejected by a 65% to 35% margin legalized marijuana sales. Supporters of Issue 3 vowed to try again. The proposed constitutional amendment would have permitted both medical and recreational marijuana use.
Minnesota voters decided more than $1.8 billion in school levy and borrowing requests from districts across the state on Tuesday's ballot, according to the Minnesota School Boards Association. It was a mixed bag among larger requests of more than $100 million.
St. Cloud Area School District 742 voters rejected $167 referendum for a new technical high school and other school improvements. Forest Lake ASD 831 voters approved $143 million of borrowing for infrastructure improvements while rejecting an $18 million issue for athletic facilities. Rosemount-Apple Valley Independent School District 196 voters approved $180 million of borrowing for building and technology improvements. South Washington ISD 833 voters approved $96 million of bonds for a new middle school and improvement to address overcrowding while rejecting a $46.5 million issue for elementary and high schools.
In Indiana, Greater Clark County school district voters rejected a $109 million bond issue and in Ohio, Willoughby-Eastlake City School District voters approved $115.75 million of borrowing. Indianapolis also has a new mayor, Joe Hogsett, a Democrat and a former U.S. attorney and secretary of state. He easily bested Republican opponent Chuck Brewer in the race to replace Greg Ballard, who did not seek a third term.
In Michigan, Rochester Community School District voters signed off on $185 million for technology and safety infrastructure upgrades, buses, and playgrounds. In Grand Rapids, voters approved the school district's request for $175 million of bonding to pay for construction, safety, and technology projects. Portage Public Schools voters approved two referendums granting authority for $128 million and another for $16 million to finance new schools, athletic stadiums, and other projects.
Also in Michigan, voters approved a 20-year millage renewal proposal in Inkster primarily to retire $12.5 million of debt owed by its shuttered school district. The proposal to renew 18 mills on non-homestead property will impact only industrial, commercial and rental property.
Some had thought the request was a tough sell due to lingering anger over the 2013 dissolution of the district but even higher costs could have been borne by all homeowners if the measure failed. If defeated, the state treasury could levy a judgment against all homeowners to repay an emergency loan the district received from the state before it was dissolved.
Inkster Public Schools was shuttered in 2013 after Michigan lawmakers enacted legislation that allowed for the dissolution of small, insolvent school districts. Inkster students were divided among neighboring school districts, and most of its buildings were demolished.
