MENOMINEE– A pair of bonding proposals made by local school districts were defeated by voters in Menominee County Tuesday.

A total of 1,460 votes, or 44.49 percent, were cast in support of a bonding proposal for Menominee Area Public Schools. 1,822 votes, or 55.51 percent, were cast against the proposal. People in the city of Menominee and the townships of Menominee and Ingallston voted on the proposal.

Had it been approved, the bonding proposal would have allowed Menominee Area Public Schools to borrow a sum not to exceed $44 million and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore in one or more series. The funds would have been used to build, furnish and equip a new elementary school; to remodel, furnish and re-refurnish and equip and re-equip existing school buildings; to acquire, install, equip or re-equip school buildings for instructional technology; and to prepare, develop, improve and equip playgrounds, athletic facilities and the site.

The estimated millage that would have been levied for the proposed bonds in 2020 was listed as 4.4 mills ($4.40 per $1,000 of taxable value). The maximum number of years the bonds of any series would have been outstanding, exclusive of refunding, was 30 years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to have been required to retire the bond debt would have been 5.66 mills ($5.66 per $1,000 of taxable value).

Meanwhile, in the townships of Gourley and Nadeau, 213 voters, or 39.59 percent, were in favor of a bonding proposal for Carney-Nadeau Public Schools. However, 325 voters, or 60.41 percent, were against the proposal.

If the bonding proposal had been successful, the district would have been able to borrow a sum not to exceed $995,000 and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore. The funds would have been used to erect, furnish and equip a fitness center/classroom building; to remodel and equip the school building; and to prepare, develop, improve and equip playgrounds and the site.

The estimated millage that would have been levied for the proposed bonds in 2020 was listed as 2.5 mills ($2.50 per $1,000 of taxable value). The maximum number of years the bonds would have been outstanding, exclusive of refunding, was seven years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to have been required to retire the bond debt would have been 2.5 mills.

According to Menominee County Clerk Marc Kleiman, Tuesday’s election took place primarily via mail in Menominee County due to the coronavirus pandemic. Voters who voted in person had to fill out an absentee ballot and submit it to their local clerk.

Though some people voiced concerns about not being able to vote in the traditional manner, Kleiman said he felt the election went smoothly on the whole.

“We had voters complain about that … but no real issues,” he said.