Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh testified before the House Redistricting and Elections Committee in Lansing this morning, pushing for a bill to move all school elections to November. Sabaugh said the revision would save schools money and would end low-turnout elections in May.
According to prepared testimony, here’s what Sabaugh had to say:
Moving school board elections to the even-year general election will eliminate voter confusion, increase voter turnout and save tax dollars.
The options afforded school districts has created a confusing, inconsistent mix of school elections in Macomb County: eight school districts conduct annual May elections, six districts hold odd-year May elections, one goes with even-year Novembers, three have chosen odd-year Novembers, and four are holding elections annually in November.
Voter turnout in many school elections is less than 10 percent. In May of 2009, 9 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in Macomb County. The cost was nearly $8 per voter. In contrast, November elections are run by the state and county and cost the school districts nearly nothing. Turnout in presidential years can reach 70 percent.
The pending legislation would save as much as $400,000 per year in Macomb, and $1.5 million would be saved countywide per board election cycle.
This “common sense” reform would free up more money for classroom instruction.
Sabaugh has the backing of her neighboring colleagues, Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard and Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett. She also has the advantage of having worked with the committee chairman, Rep. Peter Lund, a Shelby Township Republican, when he was a county commissioner.
