Millage issue passes

By Staff, 09/11/19 9:05 AM

PRESCOTT – There was a surprisingly large turnout for the special millage election Tuesday.

The end result was the millage was approved by a vote of 439-308. Tuesday’s vote pushed the millage forward as 228 people who went to Prescott High School to cast their ballot voted for it, while 94 voted against.

Early voting was almost dead even as 199 voted in favor of the millage while 198 opposed it. It was also close in absentee voting where the negative votes led 16-12.

The polls officially closed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and by 8:15 the final tally had been rendered.

Now the Prescott School District can move forward with its plans to build a new elementary school. The new school building will be constructed by the bus barn on the current football practice field. The existing Prescott Elementary School will be razed with the property turned into a parking lot. In addition, a parking lot will be added behind the visitor’s bleachers at Cummings Stadium.

Plans for the 5.9 mill hike also include improved security on all campuses. The new PES will have a single access entry along with bullet resistant glass, while PHS and Prescott Junior High School will also benefit with single access entries, cameras placed everywhere legally possible and a 3M film added to the windows of the PJHS cafeteria.

This brings the millage rate for the Prescott School District to 41 mill. During public meetings, Superintendent Robert Poole said the bonds have a 30-year payout date.