Ottawa County: Genoa school renewal loss a first: treasurer

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“This is unchartered territory for us. We’ve never had a renewal issue not pass,” Bill Nye, treasurer of the Genoa school district, said last week.
Voters in the school district rejected a ballot request for renewal of an emergency levy originally passed in 2015.
According to unofficial results of the Ottawa County Board of Elections, there were 2,013 votes cast in favor of the levy and 2,441 against it.
The district initially approved the levy as an emergency measure. It is designed to generate a specific amount of revenue – about $1.2 million annually – rather than collect a specific millage amount.
Nye said the results of the levy will likely be discussed during the Genoa school board’s regular meeting set for Nov. 19.
Voters in other parts of the county were also not feeling too generous at the ballot box.
In Clay Township, a 4.3-mill replacement levy for police department operations fell by a 15-vote margin: 685 for to 700 against.
The levy is a continuing issue and doesn’t include the Village of Genoa.
Oak Harbor voters rejected a request for an additional 3.9 mills for parks and recreational facilities: - 523 for to - 871 against.
Had it passed, the levy would have been in effect for five years and generated about $215,000 annually.
Jackie Macko, chairperson of village council’s parks and recreation committee, said a community plan survey had been completed and the responses had showed parks and community spaces at the top of respondents’ priorities.
In the Village of Genoa, a 1.8-mill, 5-year levy to help fund the reconstruction of bridges fell by 110 votes: - 481 to - 581 against.
Elmore voters were split on two levies, rejecting a request for an additional 3 mills for village operations and supporting a renewal request for 3 mills for street and alley maintenance.
The street levy passed handily with 61 percent of the vote (480 votes in favor) while the other levy was soundly rejected: 67.5 percent against (519 votes) to 32.5 percent (250 votes) for. Both levies were 5-year issues.
Voters in the Mid County Joint Ambulance District also were split in their support of two levies. A 2-mill renewal levy passed with 68.5 percent of the vote to 31.4 percent against. A request for an additional 3 mills garnered only 48 percent in support while the vote against was 52 percent. Both were 5-year levies.
Renewal levies in Harris Township for current expenses and the Harris-Elmore Public Library for operations passed easily.
A 0.5-mill, 5-year renewal request for senior citizens’ services also was approved handily.