Moran Township's request to renew its 0.25 recreation millage was defeated by a tie vote of 107 in the election Tuesday, August 3. Roughly $21,986 will not be collected in 2010 to pay for township youth to attend City of St. Ignace summer recreation programs.

The request elicited a response from most voters. There were 250 Moran Township voters participating in the election and 214 of them cast a vote on the proposal.

The request will appear again on the November election ballot, said Township Supervisor Jim Durm.

Mr. Durm said he does not remember seeing such a close vote on the issue before. He attributed the voters' denial of the request to economics, an attempt to cut costs in many households.

“It's a sign of the times,” he opined.

The past two renewal requests were not nearly as close, with the 0.25 mills approved in 2006 by a vote of 123 to 77 and in 2002 with 240 in favor and 213 against.

Another possible reason for the tie vote, township clerk Kris Vallier speculated, is that the renewal request was printed on the back of the ballot and some voters may have forgotten about it. Voters were notified about the issue on the back of the form, she said, but the township could not do the same for the 74 absentee ballots sent. Many residents in the township are retired and do not have school-age children, which also could have affected the vote, she opined.

The millage is a harder sell on the western end of the township and Brevort, Mr. Durm said, since their distance from St. Ignace makes it more difficult to participate in those programs.

Without the millage, the township will not have a specific fund to pay for the programs in 2011.

If the millage is defeated in November, the impact it would have on city recreation programming is uncertain, said City of St. Ignace Manager Eric Dodson.

“It's money the department needs to provide quality programs,” he said.

Recreation programs offered to youth include a summer soccer series, use of the community swimming pool, and ice skating and roller skating at Little Bear East Arena.

Funding to pay for participation in city recreation programs could be taken from the township's general fund, although the township board would have to discuss that possibility and make a budget amendment if it decided to do so, said township treasurer Susan Dionne.

The township contributed $12,030.70 to summer recreation programming in St. Ignace in 2009. While there is still a fee for all youth to participate, the township's contribution reduces the cost.

The millage will be discussed at the township's next board meeting Wednesday, September 1, at 6 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brevort.