Vote Put Off On School Tax

The May 13 school millage election was postponed last night by the Ann Arbor Board of Education because of a legal technicality. The trustees did not reschedule the operational millage proposal of 11.66 milis, but it is virtually certain that it will be combined with the June 10 school board elections. It is also possible that a three-part bonding election for school construction might be held June 10. The new millage date, and perhaps a bonding date, will be set next Wednesday. The millage election was scrapped on the advice of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, the school district's millage and bonding consultants. Stratton Brown of the Detroit firm said the May 13 election might have jeopardized the legality of the June 10 election because an insufficient amount of time was provided between the two dates for voter registration. A July, 1967 amendment to the general election laws pertains to city and township clerk's offices, halting voter registrations 30 days before a school election. The amendment also declares that registration cannot be taken for one school election when the offices are officially closed because of the 30day limit for a previously scheduled election. Before 1967, this had not been the case. Registrations were therefore closed in the Ann Arbor School District on April 13, 30 days before the May 13 date, and could not be reopened. Consequently, voters wishing to register for the June 10 school election after April 13 were not permitted to do so. Brown told the trustees that legislation is now pending in the State Legislature which might revoke the 1967 amendment, but that it would probably not become law by May 13. To assure the legality of the June election, the attorneys recommended that the May 13 date be cancelled. The legal firm said it toók full rcsponsibility for not disI covering the 1967 law until this jweek. The attorneys advise the school district on the legality of many election dates, and had approved and recommended the May 13 date. Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. concurred in the recommendation to cancel the May election in order to provide an "absolute guarantee to the community" that the Board of Education was fulfilling all legal election requirements. Westerman also apologized to the trustees for letting the 1967 law "get by all of us," a statement which brought a quick response from Trustee Joseph R. Julin. "I cannot accept this ment by the superintendent," Julin said, ". . . because it didn't 'get by all of us.' We totally relied on the professional counsel of our . . . attorneys," he said. Julin added that Westerman and the school board had only accepted the advice of a legal firm which constantly deals in such areas. Westerman added his comments, saying that while he was "surprised" at the legal firm's findings, he was nevertheless "pleased" that the problem was discovered at this time rather than after May 13. He said he also regretted the "confusión" which the election can - - - - cellation might bring, as well as a possible dip in the confidence of the community toward school pronouncements. It is quite likely that a millage proposal of 11.66 milis- the same amount which had been set for May 13 - will again face the school district voters on June 10. The 11.66 mili proposal for school operations had included a 3.5-mill renewal and 7.16 1 additional milis. As a result of the cancellationl of the May 13 election, city andl township clerks' offices reop-l ened this morning for voter reg-j istrations for the June 10 schooll election. I