(WHITE PIGEON) – The White Pigeon Schools operating millage has been renewed.

The renewal passed with a total of 512 YES votes to 379 NO votes.

Voters in White Pigeon Township Precinct 1 approved the renewal 408 to 266. Porter Township and Mason Township, both in Cass County, are also part of the White Pigeon School District. The St. Joseph County Clerk’s Office says voters in both of those townships were sent to the Porter Township voting location to cast ballots. Voters in Mason and Porter Townships defeated the renewal with 113 NO votes to 104 YES votes, but due to the support in White Pigeon Township, it passed.

The White Pigeon School District was asking to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its full revenue per pupil foundation allowance. The remaining 1.4672 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction.

Just like the current millage, the new proposal would be for a six year period, 2025 to 2030. With the 18 mills being levied in 2025, the millage will raise just over $4.2 million.