BORDERLAND

Special elections 
today in Ohio, Mich.

8/6/2013
BLADE STAFF

Polls open today at 6:30 a.m. in Ohio and at 7 a.m. in Michigan for special elections that include a levy request for a new library district in Lenawee County and resubmission of a Swanton school bond levy that was defeated in May.

The 10-year, 0.6-mill levy for the Lenawee District Library would replace county funding for a half-dozen libraries throughout the county that are outside municipalities with their own, independently funded libraries.

Swanton Local Schools seeks a 35-year, 3.9-mill bond levy to provide the $13.5 million local share of a $25 million building program, plus a half-mill continuing maintenance levy.

About 60 percent of district voters opposed the levy in May, and state funding expires if the plan is defeated again.

The Swanton levies would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $110 annually, while the Lenawee library tax would produce a $30 tax bill for a similar home.

One mill equals one dollar of tax for each $1,000 of assessed value.

Other school levies are on the ballots in Blissfield, Hillsdale, and Clinton, Mich.; the Jefferson district in Monroe County, and the Perkins Local district in Erie County.

Jonesville, Mich., residents have been asked to select nine people for a charter commission, while primary elections will be held for Hillsdale city clerk and the Adrian city commission.

Ohio’s polls close at 7:30 p.m., while Michigan voting ends at 8 p.m.