What's on the ballot in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County

Shall Breckenridge Community Schools, Gratiot, Midland and Saginaw Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twelve Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,400,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore, in one or more series, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing, and equipping structures and additions to the elementary school; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings, including HVAC and school security improvements; acquiring and installing instructional technology; and preparing, developing, equipping, and improving playgrounds, parking lots, and sites; and purchasing buses? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027 is 1.15 mill ($1.15 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is fifteen (15) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.22 mills ($2.22 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $10,955,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

This proposal, if approved by the electors, would, renew, restore and extend the authority of the School District to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, which currently expires with the School District’s 2026 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks required by the Michigan Constitution of up to 2 mills. The authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State. Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Merrill Community School District, Counties of Saginaw, Midland and Gratiot, State of Michigan, be increased, in the amount of 20 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of ten (10) years, 2027 to 2036, inclusive, with 19.6240 mills of the above 20 mills being a renewal of authorized millage which will otherwise expire with the 2027 tax levy and 0.3760 mills being a restoration of previously authorized millage lost as a result of the rollbacks required by the Michigan Constitution? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $779,321 during the 2027 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.

This proposal will allow the intermediate school district to continue to levy millage previously approved by the electors for area career and technical education programs and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of .9962 mill ($0.9962 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Saginaw Intermediate School District, Michigan, to provide funds for area career and technical education programs, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2028 to 2037, inclusive; and also be increased by .0038 mill ($0.0038 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2028 to 2037, inclusive, the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2028 is approximately $7,082,354 from local property taxes authorized herein (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy and a restoration of millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?