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Niki Collis: That is really sad news...

Kelly Gendernelle: It is a shame that such a small amount of money was not passed. These kids are the ones who face the choices the state is making and they will unfortunately suffer as the funding runs out! It was a small price to pay to make sure that ALL students are provided a equal public education! Those with additional needs deserve that same chance!

Susan Formento Buffa: People have no clue. They will spend more this year eating out but the won't spend it for public schools. So sad

James Coller: I am personally happy with the outcome. While I am not happy that the kids who needed the money will have to find a different source for it, I am a strong believer in the democracy and the people have spoken. They did not want to pay any extra money, especially in a time when families are living paycheck to paycheck, such as mine. While it may not seem like a lot of money, around $100 per year may mean the difference between a few more meals or a couple of extra tanks of gas to get food and to go to doctors. It makes a difference.

It is sad that your writing here and the posts you chose to promote are very one-sided and biased. The voters were not fooled by the wording of this 20 YEAR INCREASE IN TAXES when people all over are all hurting. We all want the best for children, but this was not a good solution.

Kudos Macomb County for not falling for this sham of a millage!

Shame on "The Patch" for allowing Jenny Whalen to publish her clear biased opinion instead of someone who could address both sides of the issue!

Good. This did not need to pass. Many school districts in Macomb County are not fiscally responsible. I see so many districts remodeling and erecting new buildings despite a shortage of funds. The district I live in managed major renovations, new atheletic fields and many other improvements while still having a cash surplus. Oh sorry I failed to mention it did so with out any raises to its current millage. It did so thru careful budgeting, cutting the bus system, looking to private janitorial services and taking the best bids and several other measures. This is a tough economy tighten your belts roll up your sleeves and resolve this issue the correct way and dont beg for more money,; its very unbecomming. Every one is starting to sound like Wayne County Ugh.

When public school systems go down the drain because the government doesn't care enough about education and the only choice is private or charter schools then you will see the value of public education. People that voted no to this millage...don't have a clue what students' needs are and the services that are vital in helping students on a daily basis. Class sizes are getting out of hand and standards are rising while students will continue to fall farther and farther behind without the needed support. I don't want my children to get shorthanded when it comes to their education. Obviously most of you don't have children in schools.

What bothers me is the phone call I got a few days ago that said my taxes would go up 41%...how does $100 equate to 41%? Is it any wonder why our children are having such a tough time?

I went to the polls on my "off" day looking pretty grungy just to vote 'yes' on this issue. I didn't even vote on the other stuff because I wasn't sure. But I wanted to at least help deliver this for the kids.

Please stop saying all this is "for the kids"... the voters were not fooled.

There is a clear dilineation here, along political lines, as to who cares about public education and who doesn't. I keep hearing that the districts mis-manage funds, blah, blah, blah--if a new building is erected, who benefits? The students do. Not to mention the jobs it creates and the tax revenue it creates from those that work who have to pay taxes on those wages. Why do you think people are living paycheck to paycheck?!? All jobs are being outsourced. To improperly fund our children's educations is putting a band-aid on a larger problem. Eventually, the band-aid falls off. Rejecting this millage will come back to haunt us. Do you want to keep letting public education being whittled down to where all that's left is an option to privatize? Then, the only people that will be able to afford a QUALITY education for their kids will be the affluent. Think about it people. I, no more than the rest of you want to pay more in taxes because we already pay enough. However, OUR children's education has been CUT by the state even though we pay the same amount of taxes, so that others could get tax breaks. THAT comes out of our children's education--teachers should be paid what rock stars make--quality education is priceless. Today, I am ashamed to live in Macomb County.

Clearly the voters of Macomb Twp. were "fooled" by approving the millage, but clearer heads prevailed. Just a couple of things, "all of our kids" will be affected because they will not be stealing from all children to pay for the special ed kids. (I think I resented the emotional blackmail the most.) I believe that the administrators etc. need to make financial sacrifices before asking taxpayers to. Look around your neighborhood, how many empty houses do you see? That's what we were really paying for. Special Ed has been mainstreamed into schools for years now and I assume treated equally to "regular" kids. I respect everyone who voted, because it is our right and the real "fools" were the ones that stayed home.

Hi folks, I love the conversation we have going here. I've compiled many of your pro/con points into a new article to generate even more point/counterpoint debate. There is also a poll that asks if you would support a second millage. Check it out here: http://macomb.patch.com/articles/failure-of-special-education-millage-proves-divisive-for-macomb-voters

1.2 for 20 is only the start. As your tax base housing value increases (mine has every yr. regardless of actually market valuation) this to increases. And there is mis-managed funds, big time. But lets not pay attention to that, we'll just go back to the tax payers for more.

If people started screaming at the politicians in Lansing...starting with Snyder...maybe we could get more money back for the schools. Instead people just complain about paying higher taxes and won't fight those who keep taking the money away from all of us. I'll bet that most of you who are complaining about paying more taxes have never even once contacted any of your politicians about the continual financial raping of the middle class in general.

Yes, and I hope our SEV does go up - ESPECIALLY if it helps our kids in Macomb County!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously you don't make the connection that the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and if they don't have a great education today, you are even more screwed in your retirement years. ?????GET IT!!!!!

No one, anywhere, has ever correlated the quality of education with dollars spent. I know a study of parochial schools in St. Louis, MO showed one third less dollars were spent on education yet more of those privately schooled students graduated, went on to college and furthered their educations into graduate and professional schools than did those in the public school system. I know the retort to this comment will be that public education is forced to take all students, and that is true. I am not sure that just throwing money at a problem is the answer. Even the state university system is claiming that graduates or Michigan high schools are unprepared for rigorous college studies. Maybe you as a parent should spend more time educating your student.

Thaank god it did not pass macomb twp parents need to look into where the money is spent and there would be plenty for MISD stop look and listen to where the system is spending your money........how many more computers and Ipads do these kids need they need to be taught the basics to get them though life and not the silliness going on in these schools it is very sad to say the least !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ignorance here is unbelievable. People who have no connection to education, and do not know how budgeting for the schools, or their expenditures work, have made silly, uninformed comments.
We, the voters, approve bonds that pass or fail to build new schools, athletic fields, etc. This is separate from student funding (like this failed millage) for kids.The state sets school funding according to Proposal A--which is a joke: Some Macomb schools, including L'anse Creuse and Chippewa, get the lowest state funding--about $7K per kid, while other school districts get up to double that. Even some charter schools get more!
Most districts, if you look into the matter, have already cut or frozen teacher pay and benefits. Class sizes are up to 34 (can you imagine teaching nearly 40 middle school kids in one room)? Bussing has been cut, many are privatizing resources... Where do you want all this to end?
You want students to have a quality education? It can't happen when the state is stripping funding by the hundreds. You want top-notch educators with Master's degrees? It won't happen if you pay teachers a glorified secretary's salary (it takes them 10+ years to reach the top as it is). Do you want 21st Century technology in classrooms, or typewriters? Do you want a district with facilities to be proud of? It costs money. If you voted NO to this millage, at least voice displeasure at the removal of pre-existing funding. You won't get the same, let alone more, for less!