LANSING, Mich. - The Lansing School District may ask voters to approve a new millage in 2011 to pay for facility upgrades or energy improvements, according to the Lansing State Journal.
District administrators presented a list of $20.9 million in "critical needs" to the school board recently, the Journal reported, such as $6 million in roof repair, parking lot improvement and roof and boiler replacements.
If voters approved, the district could establish a "sinking fund" and levy up to 5 mills for a maximum of 20 years. Chief Financial Officer Venkat Saripalli told the board that levying 0.9 mill would bring in about $2.4 million a year, according to the Journal.
Superintendent T.C. Wallace Jr. said that, "We can no longer fix up and repair our facilities out of our general fund," the Journal reported.
Lansing voters in 2001 rejected a $386 million school millage proposal, but approved a $68 million proposal in 2003 for school construction and facility improvement, according to the Journal. That same year they rejected a $7.4 million proposal for a new pool and athletic turf.
SOURCE:
Lansing State Journal, "Lansing
School District looks at millage," Feb. 19, 2010
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "A
Michigan School Money Primer: Revenue Sources," May 30, 2007
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.