Millage Fight

continued

Annis says rejecting the millage would force the schools to "develop a more effective and innovative way of delivering education." Instead of more money, Berriz argues, what they need is the "discipline" to cut costs and combine districts. Berriz says he could envision "one consolidated school district, one central office" for the entire county.

Supporters are hoping to turn out a strong yes vote from Ann Arbor, which normally supports both schools and millages. But with an active opposition and a recession-weary public, the norm may not hold--which is why Roberts and the nine other superintendents are worried.

"We are a group of ten local school districts facing financial disaster," says Chelsea superintendent Dave Killips. "We might be a step behind other schools in heading toward that cliff, but if this doesn't pass, we're all going to fall off it."   

[Originally published in November, 2009.]