Voters in Wyoming approved a new millage Tuesday to bring the district’s operating budget back up to 18 mills. Matt Lewis is the Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Administrative Services at WPS. He says the district’s budget was automatically reduced this year by the Head-Lee Amendment, a 1978 law that automatically “rolls back” the millage rate to equal the rate of inflation.
“And that has resulted in about a $180,000 hole in the budget this year,” Lewis said. “And that is the general operating budget, where we pay for teachers, books and buses, pretty much everything comes out of that fund, so we would really love to restore that, nearly $200,000.”
The Sparta Township Fire Department is celebrating, as voters Tuesday approved two millage renewals that will help overhaul both the Fire Station and upgrade the Department’s equipment. Daniel Onley is the Department’s fire chief. He said with the current equipment and station that the fire department is using, ensuring the best response to an emergency was becoming a concern.
“We provide this service to the community, and without these added funds, I can’t provide as good as service as we would be able to.”
Meanwhile Grattan Township voters were split on a new additional millage of 1 mil that will go towards public gravel road repair, maintenance, and improvements. Unofficial results as of 11PM Tuesday night had the proposal passing by just 25 votes.
