Realtors Back School Millage Proposal

The Ann Arbor Board of Realtors voted this morning to "wholeheartedly support" the five-y e a r, 11.66-mill package for operations which will face Ann Arbor School District voters May 13. Terming the action "a vote of confidence" in Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr., the Realtors urged "broad community support" of the millage request. Lauding the Board of Education for "now approaching our total school p r o b 1 e m with awareness of and regard for community concern," the Realtors said that to "seek less (than 11.66 milis) would mean a backward step in program and a refusal to face the reality oi our present labor situation. To seek more at this time would be to disregard the obvious public concern with rising costs." The Board of Realtors is the second community organization to voice support of the millage proposal. Last Thursday, the board of directors of the ber of Commerce voted unanimously to support the 7.16 new milis for operations requested by the school board. The operational millage package will include a 4.5-mill renewal and 7.16 additional milis. An additional amount of 1.09 milis, making a total of 8.25 new milis, would also be levied. This millage was authorized last year but not levied. In a prepared statement released this morning, the Realtors praised the manner in which the school board and administration "have approached the difficult task of building public confidence." First, they said, there has been a "demonstrated sensitivity to public reaction." Second, a "conscientious effort" has been made "to communicate the needs to the public." Third, the Board of Education has evidenced a "visable awareness" that "public education moves ahead only with public consent." The Realtors voiced concern over the rapidly rising costs of' educating children, but praised [the school board's attempts to l"seek alternatives and eco nomies without endangering the program." Stating the y "sympathizedl with the h i g h 1 y publicized starting salary schedule f o r teachers," the Realtors pointed out that there is "nearly a $10,000 average salary being paid to the Ann Arbor teachers." (Present starting salary for a teacher with a BA degree is $6,000. For a teacher with an MA degree, $6,300). The Board of Realtors a 1 s o stressed the "need to maintain the image and fact of educational excellence," but cautionedjhat "we cannot discount the reality of a growing taxpayer resistance to the burgeoning tax load." The statement continued: "In the 11.66 operational millage request, the Board of Realtors sees an opportunity for the public to express themselves relative to the level of educational excellence they want in Ann Arbor. To seek less would mean a backward step in program and a refusal to face the reality of our present labor situation. To seek more at this time would be to disregard the obvious lic concern with rising cösïs "The Ann Arbor Board of Realtors believes the Board of Education should continue in its search for economics w h i c h might be effected and for alternative solutions to the everincreasing cost of education for a child. In the belief that the Board of Education and administration is now approaching our total school problem with awareness of and regard for community concern, the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors wholeheartedly supports the millage request, and urges broad community support." If the additional operating millage is approved May 13, the total 8.25-mill increase would mean a tax hike of about $8.25 per $1,000 of state equalized valuation. In terms of the average Ann Arbor homeowner, whose house has an equalized value of $10,000, this would mean a tax hike of about $82.50 per year. The 4Mi - mili renewal would involve no tax increase over the 1967-68 tax bill.