ESCANABA — Voters were presented with more than just lists of potential representatives during Tuesday’s primary. The ballot also included a number of millage proposals that had the potential to raise taxes to support schools and public services.

SCHOOLS

The two questions affecting the largest number of taxpayers were bond proposals. Voters located within the Gladstone and Rapid River school districts — which share Superintendent Jay Kulbertis — were asked to support separate, but fundamentally similar, bond proposals that would fund technology and security upgrades, additions to school buildings, the purchase of furniture and school buses and other capital improvements.

Voters in the Rapid River school district approved their millage proposal, but voters in the Gladstone school district rejected theirs.

The Gladstone proposal would have allowed the district to borrow a sum not to exceed $47,625,000. The Rapid River proposal will allow the Rapid River School District to borrow not more than $12,125,000.

Under both proposals, the districts would issue bonds to fund the debt, but the length of the millages funding the debt varied significantly. The millage rate to support the bonds in the Gladstone district would have been an average of 4.90 mills ($4.90 per $1,000 of taxable value) over a 30 year period. The rate in the Rapid River School District will be 3.82 mills ($3.82 per $1,000 of taxable value) on average over a 25 year period.

The Rapid River Public Schools proposal passed with 379 votes (56 percent) in favor of the measure and 280 votes against the proposal (42 percent). The Gladstone Area Schools proposal failed with 1,118 votes (56 percent) opposing the measure and 891 votes (44 percent) supporting it.

SOLID WASTE IN GARDEN

In Garden Township, voters were asked to renewal a millage that will levy up to 2 mills ($2 per $1,000 of taxable value) for 10 years, 2023 to 2032, inclusive, for operating, equipping and other tasks related to the Garden Township Solid Waste Station.

The millage passed, 178 votes (77 percent) to 52 votes (23 percent). It will raise approximately $124,000 in the first year levied.

ROADS IN FAIRBANKS

Fairbanks Township residents were asked to renew 0.62 mills (62 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) for township road repair and improvements. The millage — which will be levied for four years, 2022 to 2025, inclusive — passed, with 69 voters (70 percent) voting in favor of the proposal and 30 voters (30 percent) voting against it.

The millage will generate approximately $62,062 in the first year levied.