Schools Millage Proposal Approved for Nov. 6 Ballot
A building and site sinking fund, paid for with a 10-year, 1.5-mill levy, would help make repairs at schools.
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The Nov. 6 election picture in West Bloomfield became clearer as ballot language for a building and site sinking fund millage to benefit West Bloomfield Schools was approved Monday.
The 1.5-mill levy ($1.50 per $1,000 of taxable valuation) will, if approved by voters, take place for a 10-year period from July 2013-23.
Deputy Superintendent Thomas Goulding, who had originally asked the West Bloomfield School Board to approve ballot language for a 1-mill levy, said the funds could primarily help make repairs at schools.
At its meeting Monday at West Bloomfield High School, the Board of Education voted 6-1 for the ballot proposal. Trustee Matt Chase was the lone "no" vote. He questioned the will of the community to vote for the millage given past purchases of bonds, including the 2009 bond proposal, which passed by a 2-to-1 margin in the May election.
"I just see that as a tough sell to say, You already have bond dollars, why do you need more?" Chase said.
Trustee David Einstandig, who had originally suggested asking for the 1.5-mill levy, pointed out that bond dollars are already allocated by administration. According to Goulding, money left in the 2012 capital projects fund totals just more than $7 million, which must be spent in two years.
"The lion’s share of that money was to be used for technology, band instruments, other equipment, school buses, and a small amount that I had in reserve for any minor facilities needs or improvements," Goulding said.
Goulding added that the proposal would eliminate the aspect of borrowing which follows bond issues. He said that the district is in debt from various bond issues of more than $140 million.
Bond dollars cannot be used to make repairs, Goulding said, however, they can be used for full-blown replacements.
"We believe we can defer and pay for a number of items, especially out of our operations budget, in the repair area, with sinking fund money," he said.
According to Einstandig, other Oakland County school districts that utilize a sinking fund average a 1.5-mill levy.
"The more money we have on our capital side, the less overall repairs that we’ll need for other things," he said. "If we're able to get close to 2-mill on the sinking fund that we'll find that it's going to free up a significant amount of dollars on the general revenue end."
"Take a shot. Ask for the 1.5 (mill) ... if not, then we could look at, maybe, a different election date. Maybe a stronger push, similar to how we did the bond program that we got approved."
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West Bloomfield Schools Administrative and Community Services Building
5810 Commerce Rd, West Bloomfield, MI -
West Bloomfield High School
4925 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI
Louise Cantor
10:35 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
Insanity. I will vote for this millage when my Green School name is restored. Furthermore, who would trust these board members with any more local tax dollars.
Bruce Sucher
1:00 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012
Its time to stop the millage money grab by the District. Over the last couple of years, teachers at OLMS have had the nerve to demand more when the economy was tanking. Moreover, its time to negotiate a labor contract that gives management control over work rules, personal days and all of the oither goodies the unions demand. It's over for them as they must live like everyone else which includes paying more for premiums, less days off, no longevity provisions, etc.
All these Board members take the money and pay union employees more with even unreal benefits. Throwing money at problems doesn't solve them without a plan. Enough already!
Judy Herman
10:13 am on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Our teachers have taken deep pay cuts, 2 step freezes, increased steps, the State has mandated that they pay a substantial part of their health insurance benefits and the State has made virtually everyone of these issues non-negotiable. Teacher pay is not at issue in this millage. The real issue related to this millage is how this Board majority can have the chutzpah to put a millage on the ballot when it has done nothing to show the community it has a clue about responsible use of our precious limited finances and, more importantly, the last bond money is still out there to be spent.
Judy Herman
10:24 am on Sunday, May 27, 2012
P.S. The Legislature was actually contemplating the use of expanding the Sinking Fund definition and usage. Having been involved in lobbying the Legislature regarding school finance for years, I am comfortable asserting that this is the most likely Legislative method to restore local control of our school finances that has any real legs. It makes far more sense to actively lobby the Legislature further in this regard, spend the current bond money, and then ask our community for more taxpayer support.
Louise Cantor
11:03 am on Sunday, May 27, 2012
This is an easy problem to resolve. The Schools of Choice families should be charged a annual building maintenance fee of six hundred dollars. That should be over a cool million annually to support building maintenance since Choice makes up 30% of the district's student population. No more borrowing money and the residents of the school district can focus on getting rid of the ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY MILLION DOLLARS that Tom Goulding says we still owe.
Judy Herman
3:52 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Interesting idea--but is it legal? If so, let's do it! It's a win/win for everyone. No new taxes for our Board majority to squander. A substantial buiding mantenance fund. A small price to pay for our choice families to maintain their children's quality WB education.
Louise Cantor
5:05 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
It's some what like the premise behind the original WB Schools SOS campaign except the audience and main objective are clear and concise this time. No broken promises can result except with this board anything can happen. The West Bloomfield Education Foundation can help them brainstorm fundraisers that would also directly support the building maintenance fund. Some of the board members have been and currently are Schools of Choice families that worked/work hard to maintain a quality education here. The time has come for all families to have an equal stake in maintaining this district's educational quality and infrastructure.