School millage renewals on May ballot include Hartland, Whitmore Lake, Webberville
Three school millage renewals are on the ballot for the Tuesday, May 2, election in Livingston County. Here's what you need to know about them.
Hartland Consolidated Schools
Hartland Consolidated Schools is asking residents to vote on a district operating millage renewal on non-homestead properties to levy 17.89 mills for a period of five years, 2024 to 2028, and an increase of .1061 mills for six years, 2023-2028, not to exceed 18 mills total.
According to school officials, the Michigan Constitution requires millage rates be “rolled back” if taxable values increase more than the rate of inflation. If approved, it would raise over $5.5 million for the district.
Non-homestead properties include commercial, industrial, rental and vacation properties. It does not include a family’s primary residence.
According to school officials, this isn't a new tax, but a levy that's been in place since 1995. They said it's a renewal and restoration of the 18 mills approved in May 2018.
If the millage doesn't pass, school officials said programs will have to be reduced or cut to offset the loss.
Webberville Community Schools
Webberville Community Schools is asking residents to vote on a sinking fund millage renewal not to exceed 2.85 mills for 10 years, from 2023-2032. If approved, it would raise approximately $435,000.
Costs are determined based on taxable value, not market or sales value. A home with a taxable value of $70,000, the average in Leroy Township, would see an estimated increase of $10.95 per month.
A sinking fund millage allows school districts to pay for infrastructure repairs, improvements and technology as needed without incurring interest on loans or bonds.
According to school officials, the need to replace and repair technology is great, as many of their devices are nearing the end of their useful life. The type of technology addressed would include operational systems like security cameras, servers, wiring, connections and devices.
Sinking fund dollars cannot be used towards employee salaries, employee benefits, books, consumable supplies or routine maintenance.
According to school officials, there's currently a sinking fund millage in place. Although it generates $148,000 per year, the district must use 78 percent annually for existing bond payments, leaving $33,000 for each school year. If approved, the new levy would replace the current one.
The current sinking fund will expire in 2024. If the millage doesn't pass, officials said, the district will see significant financial impacts to educational budgets.
Whitmore Lake Public Schools
Whitmore Lake Public Schools is asking for a district operating millage renewal on non-homestead property of 18 mills, for 10 years, from 2023-2032, with a 3-mill hedge to mitigate tax erosion as property values change.
According to school officials, this isn't a new tax. Voters last renewed an operating millage in 2016. Since then, the millage has eroded to 17.95 mills and will continue to decrease as property values change.
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The millage, according to school officials, pays for day-to-day operations from teacher salaries to building utilities. Officials also said an 18 mill operating millage is required by law for districts to receive full per-student funding from the state.
If the millage doesn't pass, Whitmore Lake Public Schools could face a loss of over $400,000 in five years.
Complete information on the voting process, including clerk's offices and polling locations, registering to vote and absentee ballots can be found mvic.sos.state.mi.us.
— Contact reporter Patricia Alvord at palvord@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: School millage renewals on May ballot include Hartland, Whitmore Lake, Webberville
