West Iron County families will see roughly $332,830 in the first year flow into building repairs, security upgrades, technology and student transportation after voters approved a replacement sinking fund millage on Tuesday, Aug. 4, by a margin of 1,100 to 717.
The 0.85-mill levy — 85 cents per $1,000 of taxable value — replaces an expiring sinking fund and will run for 10 years beginning in 2027, according to the Iron Mountain Daily News, citing results posted by the Iron County clerk's office.
What it pays for
The money is earmarked for repair or construction of school buildings, security improvements, technology upgrades and student transportation across the district's two schools: Stambaugh Elementary and West Iron County Middle & High School in Iron River.
West Iron County Public Schools serves about 800 students across more than 560 square miles of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. About 65% of those students qualify for the federal free and reduced-price meal program, according to U.S. News data based on recent school years.
The vote
The measure passed with about 60% support.
Turnout ran about 30% in the district, mirroring the county-wide rate. WNMU-FM reported earlier partial results showing the measure ahead 915 to 610; final totals from the clerk's office widened that margin.
County-wide pattern
West Iron's school millage was one of several tax proposals Iron County voters backed on Aug. 6. A county-wide 1-mill ambulance millage renewal passed 2,190 to 829, a 0.5-mill renewal for Camp Ba-ta-wa-ga-ma on Indian Lake passed 1,985 to 1,028, and a 0.5-mill Windsor Recreation Authority renewal supporting The Windsor Center passed 1,005 to 597.
What's next
No sinking fund dollars will be collected until 2027. Superintendent Kevin Schmutzler has not publicly outlined a project timeline, but the district's existing priorities include a middle school advanced manufacturing program launched with a $234,814 state grant earlier this year. The district's next steps on sinking fund spending have not been announced.
