School Board Plugs Tan, 8 Bonding Referendum

"If there is a theme for this bonding proposal, it would be 'To assure each child a place to learn'." The speaker was Trustee Joseph R. Julin, introducing the first of three informational programs last night on the Jan. 8 school bonding election. Approximately 50 ParentTeacher Organization presidents and legislative eommittee members- an unusually large crowd in view of past bonding meetings- filled the Board of Education meeting room to listen to the presentations and ask questions. In a prefacing speech, Julin, the Mirman of the ty Relations Committee, explained the two main objectives of the $15.5 million bonding proposal: to avoid future crowding in the schools, such as is being presently experienced, and to avoid delay, which would mean construction inflexibility and increasing costs, he said. Julin also reported that, in an effort to reach the greatest number of people and to have them well informed about the building needs of the Ann Arbor School District, a four-page supplement will be published in The Ann Arbor News the week of Jan. 2. The tabloid will detail the proposed building program, costs, enrollment figures and all relevant data. How much will this bonding proposal cost the taxpayer? The net effect would be a tax increase of about one mili levied on the state equalized valuation or about $2 per thousand of assessed valuation, according to School Board President Hazen L. Schumacher Jr. For the average Ann Arbor homeowner with a home assessed at $5,200 (which means a market value of about $20,000), the total increase over the next five years will range from a high of $13.52 in 1969 to a low of $5.51 in 1972. This is an average added net cost of $9.33 per year over the next five years, taking into considerations the retirement of existing bond issues of past years. It also assumes the bonds will be sold at 5 per cent interest] (the city's general obligation] bonds were recently sold at 4.4 1 per cent) and that the tax base] of the school district will 1 crease, Schumacher said. It. is presently planned to selll $9 million in bonds in 1968 and I the remaining $6,525,000 in 1969. Acting Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. explained the building] program in detail last night. Hel said the bonding issue wouldl provide funds for the first stage I of a third senior high school, tol be completed in 1971-72 at thel Maple Road and M-14 intersec-j tion - $6,910,000; for planning] money for the second stage, j which would be finished in 197273- $62,000; for a fifth junior high, to be completed in 1970-71 at Nixon and Bluett Roads - $4,603,000; for planning money for a sixth junior high, to be completed in 1974-75 on the Pioneer High School site- $94,000. Also included will be a 12room elementary school on the Pioneer High site, to be comIpleted in 1969-70- $1,059,000, and 10 other room additions at Clinton, Mitchell, Pittsfield and Newport Schools for an additional $359,000; additions to the main public library in 1969-70 for $584,000 and to the Loving IBranch Library for $67,000, and Ithe construction of P a u 1 i n e [branch and Plymouth branch libraries for an additional $288,1 000. 'j Additional items will include la building and grounds facility for $417,000 and an apprentice training building for $108,000, both to be completed in 196869 on the Pioneer High site, and an administration building for $819,000, also on the Pioneer High site in 1969-70. Renoyations are also slated at Slauson and Tappan Junior Highs and at Mack Elementary School, as wel! as general renovations at other locations, for a total of $592,000. The construction costs for this bonding proposal are estimated to be $25 per square foot, Westerman said. The estimated cost for the 1965 $18 million bonding issue was $20 per square foot, which proved to be an inadequate figure. In response to a question from the audience, Westerman named seven projeets which had been included in the 1965 bonding issue, but which are again included in the Jan. 8 proposal because of past financial difficulties. They include the fifth junior high school, the 12-room elementary school and 10 other room additions, one branch library and the addition to the main library, the building and grounds facility and additional space in the administration building. The trustees were also queried about the size of the spring millage election. Julin replied that exact figures were "somewhat uncertai n," but that "we're talking about 7 to 10 milis or so" to fund the 1968-69 operating budget, Over and I above a 4'2-mill renewal. Any increased costs will push that amount even higher, Julin added. The Parent-Teacher L e g i slative Committee, which caucused after the meeting, has gone on record in support of the bonding issue, a spokesman reported today. Another special informational I meeting is scheduled for tonight I at 8 p.m. for the Ann Arbor I Teachers' Association. 1 day's session is open to the I public. By state law, only property I owners and their spouses mayl vote in the Jan. 8 election. Ab-I sentee ballots are now availablel at the Administrative Offices.