Public Transportation Millage Results Mixed
There were just four public transportation millage questions on Michigan ballots on November 4th and the final results were mixed with two winning while two went down to defeat.
In Lansing and parts of Ingham County, CATA finished with a resounding victory for their additional 0.787 mill proposal for 5 years. The final tally was “yes” 71,009 or 64% approval and “no” 39421 or 36%. CATA had said if the millage failed there would be significant evening and weekend service cuts in the future. Last year voters had rejected a similar but larger millage question.
In Kalamazoo County, a first-time countywide millage proposal failed to garner support, losing by a margin of 58% to 42%, “no” voters with 69,993 and “yes” voters at 50,635. Approximately two years ago the Kalamazoo County public transportation service and Kalamazoo Metro Transit were merged into one system.
Other results in Michigan found voters in Midland County approving millage for the County Connection by a margin of 55% to 45%, “yes” 22,093 and “no” 18,144. Neighboring Arenac County, meanwhile, rejected a county millage for public transportation service there by a 63% to 37% margin, “no” 4889 to “yes” 2901. Arenac County service is provided by an operating agreement in conjunction with Bay Metro Transit.