The Allegan County Board of Canvassers has certified that the non-Homestead millage request for Wayland Union Schools was approved in the Aug. 4 primary election.

The official final count was 2,338 votes in favor and 2,328 opposed. The tally in Allegan County alone was 2,103 opposed and 2,057 for approval, but counts reported in neighboring Kent and Barry counties put the request over the top.

Wayland Schools officials, in a press release this morning said it is important to note:

• “This was a renewal for non-homestead properties, NOT primary residences.
• “This will not increase taxes, but will maintain the current 18 mills already being levied to non-homestead properties. It was set to expire in 2020 so this is just a renewal to keep it at the 18 mills for the next four years.”

Wayland businessman Bob Genther, a former City Council member, however, contested the schools’ explanation, saying, “This was not just a renewal millage vote… it was a Headlee override vote. Eighteen mills is the maximum allowed under state law for school millage. This proposal was for an override of the Headlee amendment to allow 18.3 mills to be levied, so as to override the 18 mills that would be rolled back by Headlee to be something less than 18 mills.”

The actual wording of the proposal on the Aug. 4 ballot read, “Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal property and other property exempted by law, in Wayland Union School District in Allegan, Barry and Kent Counties Michigan be renewed by 18.1773 mills… and also be increased by 0.297 mill…?”

Meanwhile, Board of Canvassers have certified that Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch narrowly defeated challenger Michael Villar. Preliminary figures had Koch winning by just 17 votes, 8,864 to 8,847.