Besides Dowagiac Union School District voters’ 471 yes to 179 no renewal of the 18-mill non-homestead property millage, there were scant ballot questions for Tuesday’s primary election to decide.

Dowagiac’s district encompasses Cass, Van Buren and Berrien counties, with 6.75 percent of 19,365 voters going to the polls with $4,560,775 at stake.

The renewal is good for two years, 2013 and 2014.

In Cass County’s Mason and Porter townships, residents by a 359 yes to 257 no margin renewed for seven years (2014-2020) a two-mill property tax levy for fire and emergency medical services through the Southeast Public Safety Authority.

That levy is expected to generate about $549,498 its first year.

Newberg, Porter and Mason townships residents in the St. Joseph County Intermediate School District rejected, 334 no to 186 yes, restoring for 20 years (2013-2032) the maximum 2.75-mill levy to educate students with disabilities.

That millage has been gradually whittled 0.2946 mills by the Headlee Amendment.

Restoring the Headlee tax limitation would have furnished $619,899 by boosting the property tax on a $100,000 home by less than $15 a year.

In the only issue before Berrien County voters, River Valley renewed its school operational millage, 462 yes to 148 no, for five years.

Ballot language included levying up to two more mills, if necessary, to offset Headlee erosion.

River Valley consists of Three Oaks, Chikaming and Weesaw, where 9.11 percent of 6,718 registered voters participated.