JACKSON, MI – Jackson College’s latest attempt to restore the millage failed with voters, marking the 17th failed proposal since 1964.

The Nov. 5 ballot proposal failed with 40,439 no votes to 33,464 yes votes.

Related: Live results for the Tuesday, November 5th general election in Jackson County

The proposal sought to restore the college’s original authorized rate of 1.33 mills, which was an increase of 0.1973 mills from the current millage of 1.1327 mills.

“First, I thank the voters of Jackson County for considering Jackson College’s request to restore the original 1964 millage rate. While I am disappointed, I respect the outcome of the vote,” President Daniel Phelan said in an email to MLive. “Broadly speaking, the College will continue to move forward in serving the people of our community as we have done for the past 96 years.”

The college’s 1.33 mills approved in 1964 were overturned by the Headlee Amendment—an amendment to the Michigan constitution that limits the increase in taxes collected to the rate of inflation.

Revenue from a successful millage would have been dedicated entirely to improving job training, job placement and vocational education programs, Phelan previously said.

Related: Restoring the millages will help Jackson College promote vocational training, officials say

“Jackson College will continue to serve our communities in vocational training, career and trades programming, and student internships, although this will be at a reduced pace and will not be as extensive as we had hoped, if the demand of millage restoration would be passed,” Phelan said.

The 1964 election marked the first and only time in school history a millage was approved. Sixteen previous millage attempts have been defeated by voters, the latest in 2023when a 10-year bond issue asking for the same amount failed to pass with voters.

Read more articles about the Jackson area election.

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