(COLDWATER) – A millage proposal to help a Coldwater based facility was voted down Tuesday by residents of Branch County.

Voters turned down the five year millage request of .99 mills by Maple Lawn Medical Care and Rehabilitation, with 9,193 NO votes to 6,280 YES votes. Maple Lawn officials presented the millage because the COVID-19 pandemic caused a large drop in their revenues along with a big increase in their costs.

If it has been approved, the millage would have brought in an estimated $1.66 million annually to Maple Lawn, which would have been used for the operation.