The vote was decisive : the two proposals needed to replace the Independence Township Senior Center were defeated by thousands fo votes.
‘It’s very disappointing ? a tremendous shock,? said Margaret Bartos, senior center coordinator.
Leading up to the election, there was no organized opposition to the proposals, Bartos said.
The economy was probably a significant factor in the measures? defeat, said Trustee Daniel Travis at the Nov. 8 regular Township Board meeting.
‘The people said clearly that they cannot afford to do this for us,? Travis said.
Any shortfalls in the township budget, which will soon come before the board, will not fall on the senior center or its department, Parks and Recreation, he said.
‘Any budget shortfalls will be evenly distributed over all the departments, not put on just a few shoulders,? he said.
Senior millage proposals were defeated all over Oakland Township, said Trustee Larry Rosso.
‘They all went down at almost the same proportion,? Rosso said. ‘It’s pretty bleak out there ? we’ll try to be creative.?
The day of the election, Bartos said she spoke to some voters who did not even know the issues were on the ballot.
She is working to find out why voters rejected the proposals, and to secure funding needed at the center through other sources such as Community Development Block Grants. The bond proposal was defeated 8592 to 6015. The proposed Adult Activity Center Millage went down 9191 to 5535.