MLive File Photo
Grand Rapids-area school tax proposals
Nine school districts in Kent and Ottawa counties have tax proposals on the Tuesday, May 5 election ballot.
Districts are seeking community support in three categories: school improvement bonds, critical operating millage that does not apply to primary residences, and sinking funds for school repairs and construction.
This election will be completed primarily through absentee voting because of the coronavirus COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory disease spreading from person to person. The disease has triggered mass layoffs and furloughs and Michigan is under a stay-at-home order. All K-12 schools are closed for the rest of the academic year and districts now must implement remote learning plans for their students.
Related: New coronavirus cases in Michigan take a dip, deaths climb to 540
This is a difficult time to seek tax support but school leaders say they have to try to address the needs of students. See what Byron Center, Godwin Heights, Caledonia, Comstock Park, Grand Haven, Kelloggsville, Hudsonville, and Northview school districts are asking voters to support for for their students.
MLive File Photo
Northview schools bond proposal
The Northview Board of Education has a 30-year, $36.6 million bond proposal on the May 5 ballot. This is a no tax increase bond request, rather a continuation of the current tax rate, based on current interest rates and 3% taxable growth, according to Superintendent Scott Korpak.
Related: Northview seeks $36.6M school bond for safety, basic infrastructure needs in May election
Calling it a “no-frills” proposal, Korpak said the first priority for this bond is to address safety needs such as securing vestibules in school buildings and the second priority is to replace basic infrastructure.
He said the district’s elementary and middle schools were all built in the 1950s and 1960s. He said while their schools are exceptionally well maintained, they have to replace boilers, ventilation units, electrical systems and plumbing.
If approved, the bond issue would not issue taxes, rather it would extend the current debt levy of 2.608 mills, set to expire June 30.
Cory Morse | MLive.com
Kenowa Hills bond issue
Voters in the Kenowa Hills School District will decide May 5 whether to approve a 25-year, $67 million bond proposal to fund improvements.
Superintendent Gerald Hopkins said the proposal would enhance educational experience of students, supporting the needs of the district well into the future. He said multiple improvements are on tap for the Early Childhood Center (ECC), middle and high school, including modernizing classrooms and educational spaces, replacing educational technology, enhancing security and updating infrastructure.
A yes vote would increase the debt millage rate by an estimated 0.26 mills over the current tax rate, going from 4.41 to 4.67. For a home with a market value of $100,000 that means $13 per year, Hopkins said.
See additional bond facts such as the proposed STEM Academy classroom at the high school and expansion of the ECC to accommodate growth on the district’s website.
Three precincts in Tallmadge (2) and Wright (1) townships in Ottawa County will get to vote on the measure for the district primarily in Kent County.
(Photo by Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Neil Blake | MLive.com
Byron Center bond proposal
Byron Center Public Schools Board of Education has a 30-year, $80.1 million bond proposal on the May 5 ballot.
This proposal is for a current need due to being near capacity in our K-6 buildings and is a five-year plan for our district, Superintendent Kevin Macina shared with district families.
In an April 1 letter, Macina said the bond would be an extension of the current millage and would not increase the existing rate of 7 mills.
According to the enrollment projections provided by Stanfred Associates, there will be near 15% growth over the next five years. Nickels and Countryside elementary schools are projected to be be at capacity in three years and Marshall and Brown will be full in five years.
The new 5/6 building would be built first so Nickels’ current students would move into the new building once it is completed, according to bond information. Renovations would then occur at Nickels to prepare the building for K-4 students. Renovations at Marshall, Brown, and Countryside Elementaries and West Middle School would occur primarily during the summer months when the buildings are not occupied.
A yes vote would extend the debt and focus on capacity needs and support improvements for safety, security, facility improvements, and technology, according to the district website.
Last year, community members had an opportunity to give input on the district’s growing population and capacity needs, including adding a fourth elementary school.
MLive File Photo
Caledonia schools bond, operating millage proposals
There are two Caledonia Community Schools proposals on the May 5 ballot.
The first is for a 30-year, $88 million bond proposal that school leaders say will allow the district “to invest in much-needed security and safety enhancements and repairs to update aging buildings so our kids can learn in a safe environment.”
The school improvement bond is a zero-tax-rate-increase proposal, according to the district. Caledonia schools currently levy’s 7.0 mills and this would remain the same with the approval of this bond.
All school buildings would receive repairs and upgrades and the bond will also replace the 64-year old Dutton Elementary with a neighborhood school in a new location said to better suited for serving elementary students and their families.
The second proposal asks voters to renew the operating millage that supports day-to-day operations for five years, from 2021 to 2025. This millage only applies to non-homestead properties such as businesses, rental property and second homes, not your primary residence.
The 18.0 mills the district is currently levying remains the same under this five-year proposal. If approved and 18 mills are levied in 2021, the district would get approximately $10.2 million. Without the operating millage, that’s what the district will lose in revenue each year and require significant cuts to programs and services for its students, according to the website.
Cory Morse | MLive.com
Godwin Heights bond
On May 5, Godwin Heights Public Schools is asking voters to vote on a $13.9 million bond to support heating and cooling, including the controls to monitor and adjust air temperatures, as well as major architectural/structural improvements and technological and transportation improvements, according to Superintendent William Fetterhoff, in a letter to parents and community members.
Fetterhoff said there will be no estimated millage increase. He said the bond will not increase the current millage debt levy, rather they would be able to accomplish these “phase two” improvements with an extension of the current millage rates.
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2020 is 1.77 mills ($1.77 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy.
Projects planned, if the bond is approved, include:
- New Carpet and Corridor Restoration
- Window and Exterior Door Replacement
- Roofing
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Controls
- New Boiler at South Godwin
- Replace Buses and add Passenger Vans for short trips with limited students
- Replace Band Instruments
- Replace Technology (Computers)
- Replace our Carl P. Bahre Stadium Track, Wall and Fencing
- Renovate our McGavin Baseball Field and Dugouts
(Photo by Cory Morse | MLive.com)
Cory Morse | MLive.com
Hudsonville operating millage renewal
Hudsonville Public Schools has an operating millage renewal on the May 5 ballot to support day to day operations. Public schools must levy 18 mils on non-homestead properties to receive the full state foundation allowance.
This 18-mill non-homestead millage does not apply to primary residences, rather businesses, rental property or second homes.
The renewal is for year 2020. The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $5.3 million. This is a renewal of millage that expired with the 2019 tax levy.
(Photo by Cory Morse | MLive.com)
MLive File Photo
Comstock Park operating millage renewal
Comstock Park Public Schools has a non-homestead millage renewal on the May 5 ballot for operating purposes. Public schools must levy 18 mils on non-homestead properties to receive the full state foundation allowance.
The cost to a principal residence homeowner is zero. That’s because a non-homestead property is any property that is not a primary residence including, a business, rental property or second home.
Voters are asked to authorize a millage rate of 18.8495 mills ($18.8495 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2021 to 2030, inclusive, to provide funds for day to day operations. The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2021 is approximately $2,624,885. This is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2020 tax levy.
By law, districts cannot levy more than 18 mills on non-homestead properties. Voters previously approved buffer in the event of a Headlee Rollback situation to ensure a full foundation allowance is collected for each student.
Cory Morse | MLive.com
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Grand Haven Area Public Schools has a operating millage renewal on the May 5 ballot. The non-homestead millage only applies to non-homestead properties such as businesses, rental property and second homes, not your primary residence.
Public schools must levy the 18 mills to receive their full foundation allowance from the state to support day to day operations.
The request is to renew the 18.0 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000.00) for 2020, to provide funds for school operating purposes. If this millage is approved and levied, it is estimated that revenue in the amount of $15,333,140 will be collected by the district the first year.
(Photo by Cory Morse | MLive.com)
MLive File Photo
Kelloggsville sinking fund tax
The Kelloggsville Board of Education has a sinking fund tax proposal on the May 5 ballot for the construction or repair of school buildings, for school security improvements, the acquisition or upgrading of technology and all other purposes.
The request is for a levy not to exceed 1 mill ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2020 to 2029, inclusive. The estimate of the revenue the school district would collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2020 is approximately $371,073.
Parking lot resurfacing, new carpet, classroom updates and roofing are among improvements planned. The cost to the owner of a $100,000 home would be about 96-cents a week or $49.92 a year, according to the school district.
MLive File Photo
More election coverage
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Visit the online Michigan Voter Information Center and enter some basic information about yourself to see a sample ballot for your area.
Absent Voter Ballot Deadline: The deadline to apply to receive an absent voter ballot by mail is 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the election.
According to county clerks, you may apply for an Absent Voter Ballot by letter, post card and absentee ballot application. Due to the coronavius (COVID-19), Kent and Ottawa County clerks no longer have in person visits at their clerk’s office to prevent the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease.