MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. - A November ballot proposal in the Orchard View School District passed by just one vote. That's the certified result following a recount Wednesday, Dec. 5.
The 10-year, 1-mill sinking fund was originally believed to have ended in a tie. The district was seeking money to complete a long list of repairs to buildings.
Ties on proposals don't pass. It's why Orchard View Superintendent Jim Nielsen requested the recount.
"I felt like there was no other choice but to challenge it," said Nielsen.
It took city and township clerks from around Muskegon County around four hours to recount more than 4,000 ballots.
Once declared, an "over-count" was reviewed by the board of canvassers and determined to be a "yes" vote.
"It was a fill in completely on yes and there was a little bit of fill in on no," said Nancy Waters, Muskegon County Clerk.
That vote helped the proposal pass by a vote of 2,196 to 2,195 total.
"We're going to start getting to work on fixing some of these older buildings," said Nielsen. "The real winners are our students."
Collection of the millage is expected to begin in 2019. Over ten years it's expected to collect around $3 million. Some building improvements with the new funds may begin in the spring.
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