CHEBOYGAN — The Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District is asking voters to approve a millage to fund career and technical education.
On Tuesday voters across those three counties will decide if greater access to career technical education is worth the tax hike.
Right now, only 4 of the 10 districts in the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle educational service district offer any career or technical education.
That means 60% of schools in those counties do not have vocational programs, leaving the area classified as a CTE desert.
“This is a regional millage in most school districts in the state of Michigan have this millage or one of the few regions that doesn’t. And, ironically, we have a big blue-collar industry up here. We’re very proud of that in northern Michigan,” said Cheboygan Public Schools Superintendent Spencer Byrd.
The proposal would create and grow vocational programs across all ten school districts. From automotive and welding to carpentry and electric students would have access to job-ready training close to home, that they don’t have now.
“We’re going to provide opportunities in their own home schools so that they don’t have to travel all the time just to have access to CTE programs,” said Byrd.
If approved, the property tax impact would be roughly $100 a year for every $100,000 of taxable property value. Supporters like Paige Jones said it’s a modest investment with major long-term returns.
“Now, I know a lot of people, if they hear their taxes are going up, are going to be not very happy. But on the other hand, you also have to think about what if you buy a house, who is going to help you be a contractor? Who’s going to be your plumber? Who is going to be your electrician? You’re not going to have anyone to call if there’s no one in that field.”
The district is one of just 15 regions in the state without a dedicated CTE millage, meaning students here don’t have the same access to vocational career education that other areas across Michigan have.