‘Disappointing and hard to believe,’ Posen schools may face hard choices after operating millage fails by small margin

by Peter Jakey —Managing Editor

It appears Posen Consolidated Schools (PCS) will need to prepare for a critical special election, May 4, 2027 to get the needed funding to continue programs and services Posen families have come to expect.

It is the result of voters turning down a renewal of the non-homestead operating millage of 18 mills, Nov. 3, that is an important part of the state funding formula. It failed by only five votes.

“It was disappointing and really hard to believe,” said PCS board of education president Brian Konieczny at Monday’s first meeting since the election.

As of Monday, the district was still awaiting the official results from the Presque Isle County clerk’s office and no decision had been made about a recount that has to be initiated by a voter of the school district.

School districts must levy a local property tax of 18 mills on nonhomestead property – industrial, commercial, business, rental and second homes – in order for the district to receive its full per-pupil funding from the state of Michigan that’s at $10,000 a student. A “no” vote on this measure for any Michigan school district means no funding from the state. 

The ramifications, if it is not approved, will no doubt be cuts.

“You could lose busing; classroom sizes will increase; you will lose the assistance of paraprofessionals to support students; food offerings,” said PCS superintendent Michelle Wesner. “Sports is another one that is not required, that’s huge. Those all come from the general operating millage.” The loss, as it stands right now is $2,344,817 of an approximate, $3 million budget.

“It is something that has been a long-standing approval,” Wesner explained. “Luckily, we went soon enough, but it is going to cost us.” It is unclear how much a special election will cost PCS, but it will be essential to keep the doors open.

The district also cannot promote a “yes” vote or advertise, but there has been a lot of positive feedback about the chaos the “no” vote has already created.

“There have been several businesses that have already reached out to let us know whatever we need to do to promote this, they are willing to do it,” said Wesner. “I had people call me and apologize for not voting because, I get it, they think their one vote won’t matter, especially for something that typically goes through.”

School officials believe the ballot language may have been confusing with the word “increase” included.

“We could not just say renewal because of the Headlee Amendment rollback,” Wesner explained. “We were rolled back below the 18 mills that we are required to collect by the state. 

“In order to get us back to our full 18 mills, it could not be listed as a renewal. It had to be worded as a new millage and that might have made people nervous.”

Districts often request additional mills to create a buffer when the full 18 mills are reduced by the Headlee Amendment. At no point can a school district levy more than 18 mills, but approval of the additional mill ensures the district will always receive the full foundation allowance allowed by law.

For now, if nothing changes with the vote count, PCS and the community have all winter to get the word out.