$50.2-million tech bond fails in Grosse Pointe, Mich.

A $50.2-million bond issue meant to improve technology and security for the Grosse Pointe, Mich., school district was soundly defeated Tuesday night.

The proposal would have increased property taxes by 23 percent. The vote was 8,486 to 3,593, the Detroit Free Press reported.

The Detroit suburb had planned to use the funds to equip students in third grade and up with tablets, replace outdated computers, install a private fiber-optic network, upgrade phone systems and improve its libraries and media centers. The school division also planned to purchase generators and add new security cameras and doors.

But the proposal proved too burdensome for homeowners to embrace. The millage rate would have added 2.28 mills in the first year, which would have meant an additional $228 annually in taxes for someone whose taxable home value of $100,000.