By David Fleet

Editor

On Tuesday about 70 percent of voters in the Goodrich School District OK’d a one-year non-homestead tax levy renewal of 18 mills used for the school district’s general fund budget.

A technical error in the ballot language in the March 8, 2016 election prompted the new question Aug. 2 for voters in the school district.

The majority of school district taxpayers reside in Genesee County passed the millage 1,513 yes to 683 no. In addition, school district voters in Lapeer County also supported the millage with 95 yes to 63 no. Oakland County voters in the Goodrich District cast 12 yes votes to 7 no. In total 1,620 voted yes to 753 no.

In May, Bev Bonning, of East Lansing-based Thrun Law Firm, P.C. which represents Goodrich School District, announced the year 2016 was omitted from the ballot language. The error originated from the law firm and the correction was placed on the August ballot to rectify the issue. That millage is on non-homestead property only that is not paid by any residents. It’s paid by established businesses and had been in place since the early 1990s.

The March 8 millage renewal, OK’d by voters, passed 3,259 yes to 1,253 no, should have been for six years and represents about $1,107,788 of the district’s yearly budget of about $16 million. The error was actually discovered by the Oakland County equalization office about 10 days after the March election. A total of 26 voters in Oakland County cast ballots in the March election along with 377 voters in Lapeer County in March.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a community that recognizes the value and importance of providing quality education to the students and families we serve,” said Superintendent Michelle Imbrunone. “On behalf of Goodrich Area Schools and the Board of Education, I want to express my sincere thanks to all the voters who overwhelmingly supported the non-homestead renewal millage. As you know, this second election was necessary to correct a technical error in the original March 2016 ballot. I look forward to continuing our efforts to partner with key stakeholders to ensure fulfillment of our mission: Achievement for Every Learner.”