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Voters went to the polls in all seven school districts in Sanilac County Tuesday. Three districts had non-homestead tax issues on the ballot Ð Brown City, Croswell-Lexington and Peck, while five districts Ð Carsonville-Port Sanilac, Croswell-Lexington, Deckerville, Marlette and Sandusky, featured races for boards of education.

Brown City asked for a 1.3 mill increase for 2007-08 to restore the millage approved in 2000 to the full 18 mills. The levy has dropped each year due to the Headlee Amendment. The increase would have generated $29,400.

However, the proposal went down 237 to 235.

"I'm disappointed," said Steigerwald. "We short change our kids" because state aid is reduced if the full 18 mills isn't collected. "That's why we lost about $23,000 this year, and next year it's about $29,000. Right now we're facing $700,000 in cuts we'll have to do anyhow. This will just add to it."

The opposite happened in Peck, where the millage passed, but not by much. The vote was 85 yes to 79 no.

Voters were asked to increase Peck's non-homestead millage by 0.75 mil for 13 years. Although the increase puts the current millage at 18.53 mills, the most the district can levy under law is the 18 mills. The increase will generate about $3500 the first year.

"Obviously we're very pleased," said Peck Superintendent Dave Bush.

"It will allow us in the next three or four years to levy the full 18 mills. And in these tough financial times, every dollar we can generate makes a difference in our financial situation. We have $3500 we don't have to cut now to maintain programs for kids. We are very pleased."

In the Croswell-Lexington District, voters approved the tax proposal by an overwhelming margin. The measure to renew 18 mills for two years, which included about 17.7 mills that expired in 2006 plus another two-tenths of a mill, passed 1,005 yes to 301 no.

Board contests

Carsonville-Port Sanilac

Three candidates sought a one-year term: Incumbent Mary Anne Margri against challengers Phillipa Zylanoff and Linda S. Ploep, the latter a write-in candidate.

Magri won with 91 votes. Zylanoff received 25 while Ploep garnered 20.

Croswell-Lexington

Two candidates, Cheryl Loomis and Jill Prouse ran for one four-year seat. The winner was Prouse, with 617 votes.. Loomis received 568.

Deckerville

There was a four-way battle for two four-year seats between incumbent Tom O'Mara and challengers Brian Klaus and Robert Hornby, both former board members, and Roger Baumeister.

The winners were O'Mara, with 376 votes, and Hornby with 474. Klaus finished third with 258, while Baumeister received 69.

Marlette

Two candidates sought one four-year seat: Incumbent Les King and challenger Nik Woods. Woods unseated the incumbent, winning the term with 146 votes. King finished with 118.

Sandusky

Two write-in candidates ran for one four-year term: Robert Hassler and Duane Paehlig. The winner was Hassler with 174 votes. Paehlig finished with 103.

Unopposed

Candidates were unopposed in two districts. Mark Mittlestat was elected in Brown City with 388 votes, while Rodney Gordon and Larry Cook won the two seats in Peck on votes of 146 and 152, respectively.

All the results are unofficial, pending certification by the County Board of Canvassers.