Typically, as I sit on my front porch on a crisp fall morning, I hear the elementary school students across the street running around on the playground and laughing as they pile leaves on top of each other.
But this year, you’ll hear the beeps and clangs of construction workers as the elementary school is being rebuilt. In 2022, Lansing residents overwhelmingly voted to pass a bond that would provide funding for the demolition and reconstruction of four elementary schools in the district. Doing so means property taxes will remain at the level set by the previous bond (which would be a $0 million increase in the 2022 approval).
On November 5th, Michiganders will go to the polls to choose the next president of the United States, members of Congress, state representatives, and local officials. Alongside these important elections, many Michigan voters will also decide whether to approve school lunches in their local public schools. Public schools are funded with tax dollars, but only a small portion of that money is available for capital infrastructure. This means schools must pay for projects such as construction, equipping schools with modern technology and secure entrances, and updating HVAC systems. Through voter-approved tax increases.
The two types of tax increases on the ballot are for school bonds (loans) and sinking funds (pay-as-you-go savings accounts). These tax increases ask voters to approve increases in property taxes known as mill increases/mileages.
One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. For example, if my school district requests a $2 million increase to support the construction of a new school building, and my home has a taxable value of $200,000, I would receive an additional $400 in annual property taxes. You will have to pay.
The required plant will depend on the scope of the proposed project and the taxable value of the property in each district. Some districts are asking voters to approve maintaining or extending current millage rates (a 0-mill increase), some are asking for less than a 1-mill increase, and others are asking voters to approve a new millage rate increase of less than 1 mill. It is seeking additional mills to support projects such as the construction of the center.
It may seem strange to convince voters that it’s a good time to raise taxes given the current economic climate, but school bonds and sinking funds can be used to finance schools’ expiring media centers, auditoriums, playgrounds, and science experiments. This is the only way to cover the costs of projects such as the This is due to the nature of our school’s funding structure. These projects benefit both the students and communities that public schools serve, and research links the quality of school facilities to improved student outcomes.
Historically, Michigan voters have been very supportive of these tax demands for public services like libraries, police, and roads. However, school bond approvals have been decreasing recently, with about half of school bonds being rejected so far in 2024. Voters are unlikely to support school bonds at this time due to the complex nature of Michigan’s school funding system and lack of connection to school districts, according to a recent analysis by Bridge Michigan and Gongwer News Service.
Voters can visit their local school district’s website to find out whether they will vote in the district’s election at the ballot box next month. And for those of us who are voting on a bond, the school will post details about the bond, including tax requirements and plans to use the funds. Election Day is quickly approaching, and it’s important that we all understand what’s on our ballots and understand the needs of not only the candidates, but our schools as well.
I’m so excited for the dust to literally settle outside my house, but I think I’m even happier to hear the sounds of elementary school students heading back to school, knowing they’re in a truly conducive environment for learning.
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