ANN ARBOR, MI - There are 14 different ballot proposals for voters in various parts of Washtenaw County to decide on Nov. 6.
That includes three statewide proposals asking Michigan voters whether to legalize recreational marijuana, approve state election reforms and create an independent redistricting commission.
There also are 11 local proposals on different jurisdictions' ballots across the county, including a proposal in Ann Arbor to create a downtown central park and civic center commons.
Here's the wording of all 14 proposals as they will appear on voters' ballots:
Proposal 18-1
A proposed initiated law to authorize and legalize possession, use and cultivation of marijuana products by individuals who are at least 21 years of age and older, and commercial sales of marijuana through state-licensed retailers
This proposal would:
- Allow individuals 21 and older to purchase, possess and use marijuana and marijuana-infused edibles, and grow up to 12 marijuana plants for personal consumption.
- Impose a 10-ounce limit for marijuana kept at residences and require amounts over 2.5 ounces be secured in locked containers.
- Create a state licensing system for marijuana businesses and allow municipalities to ban or restrict them.
- Permit retail sales of marijuana and edibles subject to a 10% tax, dedicated to implementation costs, clinical trials, schools, roads, and municipalities where marijuana businesses are located.
- Change several current violations from crimes to civil infractions.
Should this proposal be adopted?
Proposal 18-2
A proposed constitutional amendment to establish a commission of citizens with exclusive authority to adopt district boundaries for the Michigan Senate, Michigan House of Representatives and U.S. Congress, every 10 years
This proposed constitutional amendment would:
- Create a commission of 13 registered voters randomly selected by the Secretary of State:
- Prohibit partisan officeholders and candidates, their employees, certain relatives, and lobbyists from serving as commissioners.
- Establish new redistricting criteria including geographically compact and contiguous districts of equal population, reflecting Michigan's diverse population and communities of interest. Districts shall not provide disproportionate advantage to political parties or candidates.
- Require an appropriation of funds for commission operations and commissioner compensation.
Should this proposal be adopted?
Proposal 18-3
A proposal to authorize automatic and Election Day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting, and straight ticket voting; and add current legal requirements for military and overseas voting and post-election audits to the Michigan Constitution
This proposed constitutional amendment would allow a United States citizen who is qualified to vote in Michigan to:
- Become automatically registered to vote when applying for, updating or renewing a driver's license or state-issued personal identification card, unless the person declines.
- Simultaneously register to vote with proof of residency and obtain a ballot during the 2-week period prior to an election, up to and including Election Day.
- Obtain an absent voter ballot without providing a reason.
- Cast a straight-ticket vote for all candidates of a particular political party when voting in a partisan general election.
Should this proposal be adopted?
Proposition to Renew the Tax Limitation for Parks and Recreation Purposes Including Acquisition, Development, Maintenance and Operation of Park Lands and Recreation Facilities for the Benefit of Washtenaw County Citizens
To renew the millage expiring after December 31, 2019, shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed each year for all purposes on real and tangible personal property in Washtenaw County be increased as provided in Section 6, Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Michigan and the Board of Commissioners of the County be authorized to levy a tax not to exceed one quarter of one mill, reduced by the Headlee Amendment to 0.2314 ($0.2314 per $1,000.00 of state equalized valuation) on the taxable value of such property for a period of ten years beginning with the levy made on December 1, 2020 (which will generate estimated revenues of $3.84 million in the first year) for the purpose of acquiring, developing, operating and maintaining park lands and recreational facilities for County citizens?
City of Ann Arbor Proposal A
Charter Amendment for the City-Owned Public Land Bounded by Fifth Avenue, and William, Division, and Liberty Streets to be Designated, in Perpetuity, as an Urban Park and Civic Center Commons to be Known as the "Center of the City," by Amending the Ann Arbor City Charter Adding a New Section 1.4 to Chapter 1 of the Charter.
Shall the City-owned public land bounded by Fifth Ave, and William, Division and Liberty Streets be retained in public ownership, in perpetuity, and developed as an urban park and civic center commons, known as the "Center of the City" by adding a new section for the purpose as explained above?
City of Ann Arbor Proposal B
Amendment to Alter the Procedure for Filling a Vacancy in Elective Offices
Currently, a vacancy in an elective office is filled by appointment of City Council, regardless of how long is left of the term. If this amendment is approved, a vacancy that occurs with more than half of the term remaining will be filled by appointment until the next regular City election, at which the rest of the term will be contested, so long as the filing deadline for the primary election is thirty days or more after the vacancy occurs.
Shall this proposed amendment to the Ann Arbor City Charter be adopted?
City of Ann Arbor Proposal C
Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Authorizing Tax for Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements
Shall the Charter be amended to authorize a tax up to 1.10 mills for park maintenance and capital improvements for 2019 through 2024 to replace the previously authorized tax for park maintenance and capital improvements for 2013 through 2018, which will raise in the first year of the levy an estimated revenue of $6,042,300? In accordance with State law, a portion of the millage may be subject to capture by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
Library Renewal Millage Proposal
Shall the previously authorized increase in tax limitation on all taxable property in the City of Milan, Counties of Washtenaw and Monroe, that expires in 2018 be renewed and the City be authorized to levy an amount not to exceed 0.2379 mill ($0.2379 on each $1,000 of taxable value) against all taxable property for a period of seven (7) years, 2019 to 2025, inclusive, for the purpose of operating, maintaining, and equipping the Milan Public Library or any other purpose authorized by law for library service? The estimate of the revenue the City will collect in the first year (2019) if the millage is approved and levied by the City is approximately $39,000. By law, revenue from this millage will be disbursed to the Milan Public Library.
Proposed Amendment to the Saline City Charter
Shall Section 10.3 be added to the City of Saline Charter to authorize a property tax levy of an additional 1.00 mill ($1.00 for each $1,000 of taxable value) for street and right-of-way repairs and improvements in the years 2019 through 2023, inclusive, and to authorize the voters to approve future levies of up to this amount for the same purposes?
If approved and levied in 2019, it is estimated that the additional 1.00 mill, will raise an estimated $434,743 to be used by the City for street and right-of-way repairs and improvements.
Augusta Charter Township "Headlee" Override Millage Increase Proposal
Shall the general fund millage previously voted increase in the tax limitations imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution in Augusta Charter Township, of 1.16 mills ($1.16 per $1,000 of taxable value), reduced to 0.8084 mills ($0.8084 per $1,000 of taxable value) in 2018 by the required millage rollbacks, be renewed at and increased up to the original voted 1.16 mills ($1.16 per $1,000 of taxable value) and levied for five (5) years, 2018 through 2022 inclusive, for general township operating purposes, raising an estimated $247,836.05 in the first year levied.
Clinton Community Schools Operating Millage Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district 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 revenue per pupil foundation allowance and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Clinton Community Schools, Lenawee and Washtenaw Counties, Michigan, be renewed by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2019 and 2020, and also be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2019 and 2020, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2019 is approximately $965,216 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2018 levy and the addition of millage which will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the "Headlee" amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?
Ypsilanti Community Schools Sinking Fund Millage Proposal
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Ypsilanti Community Schools, Washtenaw County, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 3 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2019 to 2028, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings, for school security improvements, for the acquisition or upgrading of technology, and for all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2019 is approximately $1,620,000.00?
Ypsilanti District Library Library Millage
Shall the Ypsilanti District Library, County of Washtenaw, Michigan, be authorized to levy a new additional millage in an amount not to exceed .70 mill ($.70 on each $1,000 of taxable value) against all taxable property within the Ypsilanti District Library district for a period of twelve (12) years, 2018 to 2029, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for all district library purposes authorized by law? The estimate of the revenue the District Library will collect in the first year of levy (2018) if the millage is approved and levied by the District Library is approximately $1,340,000. A portion of the millage collected may be subject to capture by the City of Ypsilanti Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
Millage Restoration Authorization With 10 Year Expiration
Shall the Schoolcraft College District, County of Wayne, Michigan (consisting of the following public school districts: Clarenceville, Garden City, Livonia, Northville, Plymouth-Canton), be permitted to restore for a ten year period, beginning in 2019, the 1986 voter-approved millage rate of 2.27, by assessing an additional 0.5038 mills ($0.5038 per $1,000) on each dollar of taxable value of all property in the District, which rate shall be assessed through 2028 without further reduction by Section 31 of Article IX, State Constitution of 1963. If approved and levied in its entirely, the additional 0.5038 mills would raise approximately $7,136,000 in 2019.
More info about the election:
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6.
MLive has partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide information to voters about the issues being decided in the November 2018 election. Check out the League of Women Voters Education Fund voter guide at Vote411.org to learn more about candidates and proposals on the ballot.
All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidates and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should not be considered as an endorsement. The league never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.