Breaking news … School millage defeated
By Charles Sercombe
A last-minute stealth – and possibly illegal – campaign against the public school district’s millage renewal election paid off.
The millage proposal, which was voted on Tuesday, was defeated by 144 votes.
Some 528 voters opposed the millage while 384 approved it.
Just two days before the election voters with Bengali or Arabic last names, said City Clerk August Gitschlag, received an anonymous mailing telling them that they will save $500 a year in property taxes by voting against it.
That boast was not true. The tax millage was paid by only those who own commercial properties or rental dwellings. Homeowners who live in their home and receive a Homestead tax exemption do not pay the tax.
Public Schools Superintendent Tom Niczay was outraged over the deception.
“The last minute campaign flyer is a cowardly act because it does not identify who sent it,” Niczay said. “The ballot language was clear. The non-homestead millage renewal was just that, a renewal. No tax increase. To say Hamtramck Public Schools wanted to increase taxes again is a flat out lie. An outrageous ignorant lie.”
The school district can attempt to gain voter approval in another try.
The tax in question does not end until next December. The 18.18 mills produces almost $2 million a year.
The loss in revenue cannot be made up by other revenue streams, which could mean massive cuts if voters continue to reject the millage renewal.
The anonymous campaign literature violates state law which says:
“All printed matter having reference to a candidate, election or a ballot question, including yard signs, brochures, billboards, poll cards, business cards, fund raiser tickets, stationery, etc., must contain the words: ‘Paid for by’ followed by the full name of the person or committee paying for the material and the person’s or committee’s street number or post office box, city or town, state and zip code.”
Whoever is responsible for the mailing could face misdemeanor charges.
Turnout for the election was expected to be light, but the mailing apparently caught the attention of a number of voters.
The use of anonymous literature is not entirely new to Hamtramck, but it has been used relatively few times in recent elections.
City Councilmembers Anam Miah and Mohammed Hassan spoke out against the mailing and in favor of the millage at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“We need the schools for our kids,” Miah said.
Hassan said the millage is only a renewal.
“It’s nothing new,” he said. “If you paid the tax for the last 10 years, what is the big deal?”
Both Miah and Hassan said they did not know who was behind the negative campaign literate.
Miah questioned if it was someone from outside the community with “corrupt” intentions.
“Give the people the right information and let them vote the way they see fit,” Miah said.
10 Responses to Breaking news … School millage defeated
Leave a Reply
scott
February 25, 2015 at 6:49 am
I voted no, and will always vote no in similar circumstances, because it was a special election in feb..
Resident
February 25, 2015 at 12:52 pm
I voted yes. Unfortunately, a lot of voters voted “No” who would have voted “Yes” if they knew the fact. I don’t blame these voters. They simply got scared by the $500 new tax mailer. Many of these voters send their kids to Hamtramck Public School – not some charter academy.
resident
February 25, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Same here.. I will vote no to save my money.
scott
February 25, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Unless you own a rental or commercial property, you save nothing for voting NO.
onu singh
February 26, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I own a small business property. I needed to save some money so I voted NO
Miftah Choudhury
February 28, 2015 at 1:38 am
In my estimate 18 millage, that was voted down, would save me around $1250.00 from my rental properties, one of which is commercial. Even though I could not vote this time because I did not know there was an election going on in the city but I think I will vote no next time when I have an opportunity.
me
March 2, 2015 at 9:41 am
Mr. Choudhury, you certainly have the right to vote however you feel but this tax is nothing new as it has been in place for the last decade. I’m sure as a landlord you have based your rent on your costs and profit so a defeat would mean more profit for you or will you lower the rent? Again this is America and you may vote how you like. Just one more question, do you have any children that attend the public schools?
Moh
March 5, 2015 at 4:54 pm
My friends are planning to leave Hamtramck. They pay tax and purchase a lot. They say they will stay in Hamtramck if they could save some tax dollars. Lot of other residents make decision the same way. Please understand!
Resident
March 6, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Moh – Where do your friends plan to move to? Warren?, Troy?, Sterling Heights?, Grosse Pointe? Detroit? Canton? Plymouth? Every city collects this tax for schools on commercial properties. It is people’s choice to play dumb or demonstrate wiseness. Good public schools are needed. Having good schools require money.
When this tax measure came for vote 10 years ago, I voted NO. I voted YES this time. 10 years ago my house was assessed at 45,000+. This year, its assessed value is 25,200.
h
August 14, 2015 at 12:09 pm
I really wanted to vote,I register to vote but never got my voting ID .:( if I gotten to vote I would have voted yes.because I have children who goes to school.in the school really needs it. and remember a good education doesn’t come for free. 🙂 #yes