By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS - At Wednesday evening's Lewis Cass Intermediate School District (ISD) Board meeting, members determined more time was needed to organize, communicate and execute a quality millage campaign.
Instead of a fall millage vote to reinstate special education millage losses caused by the Headlee amendment to the state constitution, an election date of Feb. 22, 2005 was chosen.
The result of the "Headlee reduction" in the millage rate, the board said, has resulted in the county losing approximately $400,000 a year in special education funding since 1974.
The proposal asks that voters approve the restoration of the previously approved millage rate. It does not represent a tax increase beyond that rate.
The board had tentatively reserved Sept. 27, for the ballot proposal and had received approval from the Cass County Special Election Committee and had notified the boards of education of the four local school districts.
The February date will allow the district to communicate and coordinate with the local districts to develop a campaign that would explain the benefits for all special education programs within the intermediate school district boundaries.