Voters in the Blissfield Community School District will decide the fate of school improvement bond in a vote Tuesday at the Blissfield Fire Hall.
In February, voters overwhelming (1,017 to 641) rejected a 15-year, $12 million bond that would have cost taxpayers an estimated 2.49 mills on their property tax bill.
The plans calls for the elimination of the renovated high school facade, the bus loop, the new high school cafetorium, landscaping, monument signs, two new classrooms, some electrical upgrades and other technical upgrades. In all, the savings are pegged at $3,150.817.
Because the deadline for ballot language was due before the district even knew the results of the February vote, the district submitted the same bond language to the county clerk. The district later learned that that state law forbid the changing of ballot language. The district was stuck with language asking for voter approval to bond for up to $11.99 million.
In March, however, the district approved a plan that cuts $3.1 million from the proposal and then pledged to pass the anticipated savings to the taxpayer by reducing the sinking fund millage from 1.75 mills to 0.75 mills. The resolution reducing the sinking fund millage is subject to voter approval of the bond. The sinking fund millage is in effect for 10 more years. In all, the new plan would save taxpayers a shade over 1 mill compared the February proposal. A mill is an annual one dollar tax on every $1,000 of taxable value. A home worth 150,000 would generally have a taxable value of $75,000. Under the old proposal, the owner of that home would have seen an annual tax increase of $186.75. Under the new proposal, the annual tax increase would be $111.75.
The plan still includes new roofing, mechanical systems, window replacements, science lab renovations and technology enhancements.
