Fritz Swanson

ELECTION THIS TUESDAY

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This Tuesday, residents of the four local townships, and the village, will face a number of local issues on their ballot. August elections are famous for extremely low turnout, so know that if you show up, your vote will have a huge impact. Here are the basics.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Village residents will be asked to vote on a bond proposal that will help finance the repair of the Main Street Bridge. (Read our report.)

Manchester Township residents (the Village is in the township) will have to select a treasurer. Incumbent Laurie Carey is being challenged by Rebekkah Pratt. Because both women are Republicans, this race is playing out in the Republican Primary on August fifth. There will be no Democrat challenger in the fall. This means that you must select a Republican ballot if you wish to register a vote in the Treasurer race. (Read our report here.)

Freedom Township residents must choose whether they wish to remain in the library district. (Read our report here.)

The entire Manchester Community School District (which includes Manchester, Sharon, Bridgewater and Freedom Townships, in whole or in part) will be asking for a renewal of its millage, as well as seeking a new bond. It's important to note that the millage is a renewal, which, if passed, will not change your taxes. (Read our two reports on these issues here and here.)

You can learn more about your specific ballot information at the Washtenaw County Election Page, or at the Voter Guide assembled by MLive. You can also review your ballot information at the Secretary of State Website.

 

Below we have the actual wording as it will appear on your ballot.

 

Freedom Township - Proposal 1

Do you want Freedom Township to withdraw from the Manchester District Library?

 

 

Manchester Village - Bridge Bond Proposition

Shall the Village of Manchester, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Six Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($635,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, payable in not to exceed ten (10) years from the date of issuance, for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing a replacement bridge for the Main Street bridge over the River Raisin, including all related site improvements, appurtenances and attachments? The estimated millage to be levied in 2015 is 0.66 mills ($0.66 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 1.11 mills ($1.11 per $1,000 of taxable value).

MANCHESTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BONDING PROPOSAL

Shall Manchester Community Schools, Washtenaw and Jackson Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Three Million Six Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($3,635,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

acquiring, installing and equipping instructional technology for school facilities; partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping school facilities, in part, for technology and security; purchasing school buses; and developing and improving sites?

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the first series of proposed bonds in 2014, under current law, is .94 mill ($0.94 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).  The maximum number of years for each series of bonds, exclusive of any refunding, is eight (8) years.  The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is .66 mill ($0.66 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds.  The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $1,541,794 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $1,640,603.  The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 23 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 8.50 mills.  The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $26,690,000.  The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is approximately $12,398,568.

(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.)

MANCHESTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL

This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2014 tax levy.

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Manchester Community Schools, Washtenaw and Jackson Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 20 years, 2015 to 2034, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2015 is approximately $1,116,679 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2014 tax levy)?

 

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