Mason County Eastern operating millage passes by 53 votes; sinking fund proposal rejected

CUSTER — Voters in the Mason County Eastern School District narrowly approved an operating millage restoration proposal but rejected a sinking fund millage proposal in Tuesday’s general election.

With all district precinct and early-voting results counted, the operating millage proposal received 1,130 yes votes (51.20%) compared to 1,077 no votes (48.80%), passing by 53 votes.

The sinking fund millage proposal received 1,066 yes votes (48.37%) compared to 1,138 no votes (51.63%), failing by 72 votes.

The approved operating millage proposal authorizes the district to restore up to 6 mills for eight years, 2026 through 2033, on property other than principal residences and other property exempted by law.

The proposal is intended to restore millage lost through reductions required by the Michigan Constitution. The district is required to levy 18 mills on applicable property to receive its full per-pupil foundation allowance.

Although the proposal authorizes up to 6 mills, the district will levy only the amount necessary to restore the reduction. The district estimates that a levy of 0.1474 mill in 2026 will generate approximately $19,378.

The rejected sinking fund proposal would have authorized the district to restore up to 0.0511 mill for three years, 2026 through 2028.

Revenue from the sinking fund could have been used for school security improvements, technology upgrades, construction and repairs to school buildings, acquisition of school property, student transportation vehicles and other purposes permitted by state law.

The district estimated that the restored sinking fund millage would have generated approximately $14,919 in 2026.

Both proposals were intended to restore millage authority reduced through constitutionally required rollbacks.

Mason County Eastern Board of Education

Three candidates ran unopposed for three positions on the Mason County Eastern Board of Education.

The complete unofficial results, including early voting, are:

Sheryl A. Howe: 1,388

Jennifer Fisher: 1,320

Curtis A. Stewart: 1,297

All three candidates were elected to the board.

Election results remain unofficial pending certification.

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