One more June school election is on the calendar, then officials will have to make some decisions of their own for the future.
The Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education voted last week to schedule this year’s vote on Monday, June 14.
The last day for new voters to register will be Monday, May 17.
On the ballot will be two school board seats, a non-homestead property tax renewal and matters related to Oakland Community College.
The board also voted to again have the election administered by the district, with the help of the Independence Township clerk’s office.
Last year was the first year the district handled election duties internally, rather than turn it all over to the township government.
While there were some admitted learning experiences, Deputy Superintendent David Reschke (the designated election administrator) said it worked well.
‘Last year people seemed to be comfortable with it,? Reschke said, but he admitted, ‘We couldn’t have done it without the township’s help.?
The contract with the township government has ‘minimal changes? in pricing, Reschke said, with the final cost depending on how much work is required to register new voters and how many of the district’s voters (of whom about 29,000 are registered) show up to vote.
The school election ‘typically? costs the district between $25,000 and $30,000, Reschke said.
Two trustee seats will be on this year’s ballot, with the four-year terms of Karen Foyteck and Mary Ellen McLean scheduled to expire. Nominating petitions will be available around Feb. 23, and will be due in early April for those hoping to be elected to the school board.
The board has yet to finalize wording on the ballot question to renew the full 18-mill ‘non-homestead? property tax, levied on business, commercial, rental and second-residence properties. Reschke said that will likely be determined by the board in March.
While this year’s election may be considered routine, it will be the last. A new state law will realign election schedules begining in 2005, dictating only four election dates and requiring administration by municipal clerks.
‘We will have to make some decisions for next year,? Reschke said, and questions include more than simply when to schedule the election.
The schedule, intended to consolidate the number of potential elections to reduce voter confusion, allows for elections in February, May, August and November.
Early conversations among board members have led to the likelihood of the school election being in May, but the change in date may lead to decisions on the terms of office and the rotation of seats on the ballot.
To allow for proper public notice of the election, voter registration and nominating petitions, a May election would require a school board resolution to be adopted no later than January 2005, Reschke said.