11 months ago
Ferndale, Mount Clemens, Southgate voters weigh school bond proposals, millage request and more
Voters in several Metro Detroit communities headed to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on school bond proposals, Wyandotte residents voted for mayor and Clawson voters considered a charter amendment.
At least five school districts put bond proposals before voters Tuesday for new facilities, technology updates or athletic field improvements. The districts included Ferndale, Lamphere Schools, Mount Clemens, Redford-Union and Southgate.
Ferndale Public Schools sought one of the largest proposals, a $114.8 million bond. If approved, it will pay for improvements to the Ferndale middle and high school buildings, including adding an academic wing to replace the aging 1950s west wing and ensuring separation of middle and high school spaces. Funds would also be used to modernize classrooms, expand common areas for flexible learning, add safer entry points and improve fine arts spaces.
Ferndale schools' proposal wouldn't increase taxes for voters. The district's debt millage would stay at 7 mills before eventually decreasing as bonds are paid off.
Meghan Veiga of Ferndale voted for the bond proposal. She said she has children, ages 5 and 9, in the school district, though they aren't in the middle or high school yet.
"I definitely want the kids now and the kids in the future to have the opportunity to have modern learning spaces," she said.
Ferndale residents also weighed a measure to renew the city's operating millage of 5.4452 mills. Veiga voted for the millage proposal as well.
"I do believe that we should support our public services," she said, "and I think it takes the community to get behind that ― to continue having them provide the excellent services that they provide and hopefully improve some of their circumstances, buildings, etc."
Kirk Trainer said he has been a Ferndale resident since 2012, and he has always heard people say that the schools "aren't good."
"And so I wanted to have a say in that by voting to fund improvement in the schools," he said.
His fiancée, Audrey Landgraff, said Ferndale Public Schools are on an "upward trajectory," and she and Trainer wanted to "make sure that that continues on."
Mount Clemens Community School District also sought a bond proposal to update facilities. Its $91.82 million, 20-year bond would be used to preserve a century-old historic building that it calls the "gateway to community." It would also pay for building repairs across the district; improve athletic facilities; create separate entrances for the high school and middle schools; and create security "vestibules" at building entrances.
District officials say if the measure is approved, its debt millage would decrease from 11.8 mills to 10.8 mills.
"This bond reflects a careful balance of investing in critical improvements without placing an unnecessary financial burden on our community," said the district on its website.
Wyandotte voted on a mayor and council races Tuesday. Incumbent Robert DeSana faced Curtis Kile in the mayor's race.
Other issues
Ferndale residents also considered a measure to renew the city's operating millage at the amount it was set at in 2015. The city's current millage expires at the end of 2025 and has dropped to about 4.2808 mills because of the Headlee Amendment, a state law that requires local governments to reduce millage rates if taxable property values rise faster than the rate of inflation.
If adopted, funds would be used to maintain public services, said Assistant City Manager James Krizan. The measure would cost the owners of a $150,000 home $816.30 in taxes, up from $642.12 in 2024, according to the city's website.
The millage request failed in November, and the city reworked the request.
Ferndale resident Josh Koppen said he felt last year's proposal was "too vague" for him.
"I wasn't too fond of … how much they were saying they're doing with the parks, just because there's been some disappointment in some of the city projects before," said Koppen, who brought his 2-year-old daughter, Magnolia, with him to vote. "So I wanted to see them fix the things that mattered the most first, which was city services, and then move on to other projects."
He voted for the updated millage proposal Tuesday. He said it's more clear now what the "Headlee Override" is going to fund.
John Currier, who has lived in Ferndale for 30 years, voted against the millage request. He said he would rather have the city use its current funds to pay for city services than ask for additional money.
"People down there at the elected offices should come up with some renewed financial responsibility for the city," he said.
He noted, though, that Ferndale's city services are "great," and he will support city workers "all the way."
In Clawson, voters decided on a charter amendment that would continue to limit the city government to four City Council members and mayor, preventing a charter revision plan adopted in 2023 that would expand the council to six members from going into effect.
If the first amendment is approved, City Council members would be elected to four-year terms every two years, preventing a charter revision that would allow the three highest City Council vote-getters in the 2025 city election to hold office for four years, and the fourth highest to hold office for two years.
Lamphere School District, meanwhile, was pursuing an $85 million bond proposal to add a gym to the high school, remodel and furnish school buildings and athletic facilities, and buy equipment for the middle school robotics teams.
Wayne County
In Wayne County, two school districts, Redford Union and Southgate, were seeking bond proposals.
Redford Union School District asked voters for $44.375 million in bonds to be paid for over 30 years. District officials say the measure would not increase taxes and would be used to cover infrastructure work, instructional technology and HVAC updates.
Southgate Community Schools was asking voters for $28 million in bonds over 25 years. District officials said voters would see no net increase in taxes from the .35 mill measure and it would be used to install air conditioning and HVAC in all school buildings, update athletic facilities and for other improvements.
Southgate schools also asked voters to renew for 10 years an operating millage of 18.1262 mills, which by law is capped at 18 mills. This would prevent a decrease caused by the Headlee Amendment.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Ferndale, Mount Clemens, Southgate voters weigh school bond proposals, millage request and more
Ferndale, Mount Clemens, Southgate voters weigh school bond proposals, millage request and more #SchoolBonds #DetroitVoting #EducationFunding
0
0
0
0
