Michigan: Ann Arbor Downtown Library Bond Proposal Defeated

From AnnArbor.com:

The postmortem of the Ann Arbor District Library’s campaign for a new downtown library began early Tuesday night, as soon as election results showed the proposal failing in key precincts.
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The $65 million bond proposal was rejected by voters in every municipality in which it appeared on the ballot Tuesday — throughout the city of Ann Arbor, as well as the portions of Ann Arbor, Lodi, Pittsfield, Salem, Scio, Superior and Webster townships included in the district.
The final tally was 41,359-33,604, giving the “yes” side 44.8 percent.
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“I think there was this preoccupation with building this downtown library building because so many other communities are doing it — Seattle, Austin, Des Moines, Iowa — and I really don’t think that’s what Ann Arbor needs,” she said. “We need more library services further out.”
Griswold said she would “absolutely” oppose any effort if the library board decided to take a second shot at winning voter approval for a new downtown library.

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