Three schools are seeking bond proposals in primary
Three Gratiot County school districts are seeking passage of bond proposals in the Aug. 4 primary election.
Both Breckenridge and Ithaca had initially planned to place the issues on the May 5 ballot but decided to delay the vote due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fulton actually has two separate proposals that district residents will be voting on.
BRECKENRIDGE
Breckenridge is seeking passage of a $15 million bond issue that would provide upgrades for all of the district’s buildings.
That would put the revised millage rate at 3.49 mills for the next 15 years.
The levy would include funds for an elementary school addition, along with new windows, security camera system, new equipment and furnishings, technology and energy efficiency upgrades at all buildings, along with improvements to athletic facilities and the purchase of new buses, among others.
If approved it would cost the owner of a $100,000 home, with a taxable value of $50,000, about $175 a year in property taxes.
FULTON
The first Fulton bond pro
posal is a 2.95-mill, $9.4 million request for what school officials call “essential” items.
That includes funding for the purchase of 10 new buses, complete renovation of the kitchens in both the high school/middle school and elementary school, technology upgrades, classroom improvements, furniture, and
new windows, flooring and lights in all buildings,
The second proposal is a 3.25-mill, $10,2 million levy. It would feature the construction of a new gymnasium, bus garage with covered parking, along with site work and improvements to outdoor athletic facilities.
Proposal 1 would cost the owner of a $100,000 home, with a taxable value of $50,000, an additional $150 a year in property taxes.
Proposal 2 would raise
taxes on a similar home $160 annually.
Both are for 28 years.
ITHACA
Ithaca is asking voters to approve a 2.95-mill, $30 million bond issue for 28 years.
The big ticket item would be the construction of a new $25 million elementary school on property owned by the district adjacent to the junior-senior high school.
If approved both current elementary schools would
be closed and likely sold, although the new gymnasium at North Elementary would be retained.
It also includes about $5 million for technology, security, and building upgrades at the junior-senior high school and the purchase of new buses.
The total debt levy that would be required would be 3.61 mills, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 home, with a taxable value of $50,000, about $180 a year in property taxes.