Macomb County’s five school districts are asking voters to approve school bonds on Nov. 5.
Bonds are one common way school districts fund construction costs and projects ranging from repairing old roofs and installing new security doors to improving playgrounds and purchasing school buses.
“The ballot may be asking voters to approve a tax increase or approve an existing tax,” said Douglas Carr, associate professor of political science and director of the MPA program at the University of Oakland.
Van Dyke Public Schools is among the districts asking voters to support the bond.
“Two roofs must be replaced immediately,” Van Dyke Public Schools Superintendent Piper Bogner said. “The windows and boiler (HVAC system) also need to be replaced, so we will be installing a grass field.”
That’s why schools are presenting voters with ballot questions of zero tax increase or no tax increase. To authorize general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $36,170,000.
“Our community has always been incredibly supportive, so we’re hopeful, but getting your hopes up is not a strategy, so we’ll continue to put out information about the zero increase.” Bogner said, addressing a question from a constituent who noted they went so far as to add a hotline number.
Essentially, school bonds are what school districts use to pay off bonds over time.
This, Carr explained, would be done by increasing property taxes and continuing bonds.
Mileage is calculated by looking at the taxable value of a home and multiplying it by the number of factories that are taxed. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. If the levy is 0.95, the miscellaneous expense rate for a home with a taxable value of $100,000 is $95.
Tax accrual bonds are very similar to home equity loans.
Homeowners can get cash by refinancing their mortgage with a mortgage company. When a school district reaches the end of a bond’s maturity period, it can borrow more money by refinancing the bond without taxpayers paying more than they currently do.
That’s why it can be called a tax increase appeal bond.
“We’ve refinanced it three times since I’ve been here,” Bogner said of the 2008 and 2015 bond offers.
Memphis Community Schools Superintendent Sarah Doberer said the district did its homework before putting the bond proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot.
“The final list of bond projects was developed with input from our community and staff through a series of focus panels and an online survey,” Doberer said.
Community and staff input resulted in a $16.2 million tax increase bond proposal.
It includes approximately 100 projects aimed at improving safety and security, developing educational spaces and facility infrastructure, etc.
For security and safety reasons, the district will replace aging fire alarm panels, install additional key access systems, replace doors, repave some parking lots and sidewalks, and purchase new buses. I hope.
Updates to the teaching spaces include creating dedicated spaces for robots, upgrading science labs, and equipping classrooms with digital displays and new furniture. A digital media studio and new sports training space will also be opened.
Improvements to the facility infrastructure and school grounds include roof replacement, drainage upgrades, and temperature control system updates. The sports facility will have a new running track, expanded parking, and updated press box and scoreboard.
Voters can find more information on the district’s website www.memphisk12.org. Dobbelaer is also happy to assist residents with further questions about the bond proposal by calling: 810-535-8225 or emailing: sdobbelaer@memphisk12.org. )
Other school bond proposals include:
Reims Creuse Public School
The L’Anse Creuse Public Schools (LCPS) Board of Education has approved a $188.7 million non-tax increase bond proposal to be placed on the November 5th ballot.
School officials worked with architecture and construction management experts to determine immediate facility needs and program upgrades, and to identify bond proposal projects, according to information on the district’s website. The identified projects were grouped into four categories, including safety and security upgrades, arts and athletic enhancements, and improvements to infrastructure and school facilities, as well as educational spaces and technology.
The proposal is also a revised version of one previously asked of voters.
Voters rejected an earlier request for a $330 million bond proposed to address aging facilities throughout the district. Since the last LCPS bond proposal was 19 years ago, the scope of the proposed projects was broad.
However, post-election community feedback resonated with the need to update school facilities without increasing tax rates. Residents also questioned the size and scope of the projects being completed at once. For these reasons, the district placed a smaller modified $188.7 million bond on the ballot.
For more information, please visit lc-ps.org/community/bond-election-information/.
South Lake Schools
The district is asking voters to consider updating the system currently in operation and keeping the system harmless on Election Day.
The holdout tax is levied on principal residences, qualified agricultural and forestry property, supportive housing property, public school academy property, and industrial and commercial personal property. Harmless mileage allows school districts located in communities that spend more than the per-pupil minimum funding to continue spending. The state of Michigan requires school districts to levy 18 mills on non-homestead land in order to receive the full foundation grant from the state.
Southlake Schools Superintendent Ted von Hiltmayer said the passage of these proposals would not increase residents’ taxes.
The tax is imposed on non-homestead properties such as businesses, certified agricultural properties, vacation homes, investment properties, and rental properties as commercial properties. There is no impact on the main residence.
“If approved, non-homegrown, non-hazardous millet would provide school districts with $5.3 million annually and provide much-needed educational resources to ensure students grow and thrive.” These funds are an important part of the district’s budget, and without this support, significant programming cuts would be necessary,” von Hiltmayer said. “In partnership with this community, our students are encouraged to reach their full potential. Funding provided through the Operating Fund and the Harmless Pastures Fund allows us to expand our facilities at South Lake. is safe and available to students and the community.”
For more information, contact the administrator at tvonhiltmayer@solake.org or visit solake.org.
warren integrated school
The district’s operational grazing rights are due for renewal on Nov. 5, and the district is proposing a 10-year exchange.
“It is important that all members of our community understand the importance of the millage we operate. Every few years we ask the community to vote on the cost of running our schools, and 79% of that is ours. It is funded by local businesses and the remaining 21% is funded by homeowners,” Warren Unified Schools Superintendent John Bernier Jr. said.
As he explained, millage makes up nearly 20% of the district’s operating budget and is primarily used for in-class learning by teachers, support staff, principals and others. Books and materials. Other programs include athletics, fine and performing arts, and many other excellent extracurricular activities.
“We are proud of the Board of Education’s diligent efforts to maintain a balanced budget and reduce unnecessary spending. We are asking the community to vote to keep this millage rate constant for the next 10 years to preserve opportunities as we prepare for the next 10 years. It does not mean an increase in taxes on primary residences.”
For more information, please contact your supervisor at 586-698-4044 or visit wcskids.net.
