MCC bonds defeated

MCC bonds defeated

SCOTTVILLE — The majority of voters in the Mason County Central School District sent another message Tuesday that supporting education is not a priority as they defeated both millage proposals.

Proposal 1, which focused on critical repairs to the district’s 64-year-old high school, safety and security, along with repairs to the district’s streets and parking lots, was defeated by 11 votes, 890-879 (results are unofficial). Results from Oceana County’s Weare Township will not be available until Wednesday, but the handful of voters in that area have voted against the last two bond requests.

Proposal 2 would have resulted in an auditorium. That request was defeated 1,104-615.

Superintendent Jeff Mount said he was naturally disappointed in the results.

“Proposal 1 was dedicated to needs that will not be going away,” Mount said. “A large part of our high school is in need of a major upgrade. It’s disappointing to hear that people voted no because they no longer have children in the school district. Who do they think supported the school when they were students? A community needs to take responsibility and provide safe and adequate facilities for its children to learn in.”

Proposal 1 was a request for an additional .8 mill and Proposal 2 would have been 1.47 mills, a total of 2.27 mills, which would have meant a millage rate comparable to what taxpayers paid in 2015.

“I don’t know what the next step is at this point,” Mount said. “That’s a decision that the Board of Education will have to make. It’s just a really sad day for our children.”