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Ann Arbor board backs Washtenaw ISD special-education millage renewal
Summary
Ann Arbor trustees voted to adopt a resolution supporting renewal of the Washtenaw ISD special-education millage, a countywide tax that funds special-education reimbursements to districts; WISD presenters warned failure to renew could reduce reimbursements by roughly $25.8 million.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools board voted to adopt a resolution supporting renewal of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District's special-education millage.
Naomi Norman, superintendent of the Washtenaw ISD, told the board the ISD's special-education fund relies heavily on property-tax millage revenue and that a voted portion of the levy (approximately $52.5 million in the current budget) is up for renewal. Norman said the countywide funding supports services and reimbursements that flow back to local districts; if the voted portion is not renewed the ISD estimates an impact roughly in the $25 million range to local reimbursements.
Board members moved the resolution after the WISD presentation and a brief discussion. Miss Soderbergh conducted a roll-call vote; trustees voted in favor and the motion carried.
Trustees said they supported the renewal because special-education reimbursements are essential for school districts to cover costs for students with higher service needs. Several trustees also said they favored placing the question on the November ballot to reach higher voter turnout.
The resolution directs the Ann Arbor board to notify WISD that it supports placing the renewal on the ballot. The WISD presentation noted that renewal would preserve countywide transfers that help offset special-education expenses in each local district.
