The Michigan Daily. Vol. XCI, No. 11-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Wednesday, May 20, 1981 Sixteen Pages ProposalA rejected by state voters From staff andwirereports DETROIT - Michigan voters rejec- ted by almost a 3-1 margin yesterday a tax plan that would have slashed property taxes and increased the sales tax. The plan had been devised by state leaders hoping to head off. more sweeping tax reforms. An unofficial tally by The Associated Press showed Proposal A trailing by a 74-26 percent margin with 5 percent Qf the state's 6,712 precincts reporting. Returns from across the state showed the proposal losing heavily in all areas. THE PROPOSAL WAS defeated in Washtenaw County by a narrow margin, said a county clerk, adding that about one-third of registered voters in the county cast ballots. The plan, known as Proposal A, would have chopped property tax bills by about 45 percent. To offset the loss of revenue, the sales tax would have risen from 4 cents to 5.5 cents on the dollar. University officials, who formally supported Proposal A last week, said they were "disappointed" with its defeat. "THERE WILL BE other oppor- tunities to pass appropriate legislation and I hope we will take advantage of them," said University President Harold Shapiro. "I'm just terribly disappointed," said Richard Kennedy, vice president for state relations. "I think it puts the whole, fiscal situation in the state in a quandry," he said, hinting that he ex- pects another Tisch type proposal to appear on the 1982 ballot. Kennedy said he thought the negative vote indicated the electorate was either satisfied with the current state tax structure, or that people desired more severe cutbacks in state expenditures. THE ISSUE was placed on the ballot by Gov. William Milliken and the Legislature, in part to throttle growing support for huge tax cut plans expected to be on the state ballot in 1982. "I did all I could do," said Milliken, who rebounded from hernia surgery in See STATE, Page 2 Sails away Boat 4 of the University's Sailing Club turns hard during a race last Sunday on Base Lake. The club teaches sailing classes each Saturday and races every Sunday at the lake, which is just outside Dexter. Night transit system OK'd By LOU FINTOR The Women's Safety Task Force of the Public In- terest Research Group in Michigan announced yesterday that plans to implement a late-night transit service for Ann Arbor residents have received the tentative approval of the city and federal governmen- ts.. The service is to be provided by independent taxi companies in Ann Arbor through the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, and is slated to operate between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. nightly at a reduced cost to city residents. CHRIS PENNOCK, A MEMBER of the Women's Safety Task Force and PIRGIM treasurer, said the plan now has federal approval and that official notification is expected somietime within the month from the Urban Mass Transportation Association in Washington. "Officials at AATA sound really optimistic," Pen- nock said. "Officials at the Urban Mass Transpor- tation Association have already assigned a project manager with AATA and we hope to have the service operating before the end of this summer." According to Pennock, the Women's Safety Task Force became concerned with the status of night- time transportation following the murder of three Ann Arbor women last year, and a reported recent increase in sexual assaults. F eds unofficially approve servitce "WE TARGETED AATA because as an urban mass transit authority and a public service, it has the responsibility to provide transportation to residen- ts," Pennock said. Although the service will be available to all city residents, women traveling alone late at night will be especially encouraged to use the service. "We wan- ted to make inexpensive, convenient transportation available to city residents late at night," said Pen- nock. Statistics from a recent Task Force survey indicate that at least 350 Ann Arbor residents get off work between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. and that most either ride or walk with another employee, or have a friend pick them up. According to Pennock, very few said they took a cab or owned a car. THE GROUP SURVEYED more than 20 major area late-night employers in compiling their statistics. "The survey didn't include area hospitals, libraries, or special events crowds," Pennock said. While the Safety Task Force will not have a direct voice in the operation of the service, it will periodically review and monitor the system, Pennock said. "AATA has been really receptive and cooperative," said Pennock. "They all seem to be genuinely concerned with the late-night transpor- tation problems in Ann Arbor." THE WOMEN'S SAFETY TASK Force is concer- ned with the discontinuance of the University's "Nite- Owl" bus service for the summer. But, they say, while the "Nite-Owl" may serve a select number of residents, it doesn't address the problems of late- night transportation on a city-wide basis. "The 'Nite-Owl' is a good service, but it only serves a-minimal number of people until 2 in the morning, and it's not a door-to-door service," said Paddock. The Women's Safety Task Force is optimistic about the success of the new service, but points out that it's continued operation rests with residents of Ann Ar- bor. "This is a demonstration-grant subsidy for one year," Pennock said. "It's important that the public utilize the service so the transitauthority will see that it's worthwhile. It's just a test, we have to make it work."