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Whitmore Lake Annexation Vote Tomorrow

Whitmore Lake Public Schools
Andrew Cluley
/
89.1 WEMU

It's Decision time for Whitmore Lake Public Schools. Voters in Ann Arbor and Whitmore Lake tomorrow decide if the annexation plan moves forward.  Elected officials and those seeking office have mixed thoughts on the proposal.

Washtenaw County Commissioner Dan Smith supports the annexation plan. He's interested in the outcome because his district is comprised of most of the Whitmore Lake School District as well as the largest geographical portion of Ann Arbor Public Schools. He likes what the boost in per pupil funding from the state for Whitmore Lake students will mean for a pair of districts that have challenging budgets. "This is why the $1.8 million in brand new money is so interesting to a combined district.  Money that neither district sees if they stay apart.  This is really, truly, a carrot that the state is dangling out there saying, 'Go annex," Smith says.

It may be a less filling carrot than annexation supporters believe. There are costs to annexation and residents in the current Ann Arbor district will see an increase in taxes. 

Ann Arbor School Board candidate Hunter Van Valkenburghopposes the plan.  He worries it carries longer term risk. "Larger and more spread out with greater transportation costs and then the state can sock us with another hit to the per pupil allocation and then we'd be in even worse shape than we are now," Van Valkenburgh says.

The plan has critics in Whitmore Lake as well. Lisa McCully is running for Whitmore Lake's Board of Education.  She opposes annexation because it means a lack of control.

The proposal must pass in both communities for annexation to move forward. If the issue fails, Whitmore Lake officials say painful cuts will likely be needed to balance the budget next year.

Candidates running for both Boards of Education are split on annexation. In Ann Arbor DonnaLasinski, JackPanitch and Christine Stead support the measure. Patricia Ashford Manley, Hunter VanValkenburgh, JefferyHarrold, RolandZullo, and SusanBaskett in opposition.

In Whitmore Lake incumbents Jim Vibbert and Anne Iaquinto support the plan and Lisa McCully and Kalyndra Craven oppose the proposal.

Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.  

Like many, I first came to this area when I started school at the University of Michigan, then fell in love with the community and haven’t left. After graduating from U of M in the mid 1990’s I interned at WDET for several years, while also working a variety of jobs in Ann Arbor. Then in 1999 I joined the WEMU news team.
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