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School Tax Issues Go On Ballot

School Tax Issues Go On Ballot image
Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
October
Year
1973
Copyright
Copyright Protected
Rights Held By
Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

Two issues, a 6.67-mill renewal and an additional one mili for upgrading buildings, sites and equipment, will be on the Nov. 19 ballot for Ann Arbor School District voters. The Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday night to place the five-year, 6.67-mill renewal on the ballot and 8 to 1 to ask voters for the additional one mili. Trustee Terry Martin, who voted against the one mili proposition, suggested the board postpone the additional millage request until June, after property taxes have been equalized . In recommending the board ask voters for a one mili levy to be collected annually for five years, Supt. Harry Howard said the levy would yield approximately $4.75 million. The school district has an investment of approximately $91 million in buildings and equipment, Howard reported. "Many of the essential repairs and renovations to our buildings and renewing and updating of equipment have been delayed for years," he added. The MUldiBg atid siteJimd mïïïage wilP read on the ballot "to be used and accumulated for acquiring, constructing, extending, altering, repairing and equipping the buildings and "facilities of the School District of the Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor." When trustees expressed concern about how voters might interpret the ballot language, Howard said the money could be used legally for new buildings. However, he added, "We already have money for new buildings. The chance of building new buildings with this money isnil." Board President Duane Renken added the board has the responsibility to live up to what it tells the public it will do with the funds during the millage campaign. Ralph LaJeunesse, assistant superintendent for field services and capital planning, has drawn up a 38-page document outlining proposed improvements and renovations to be made if voters approve the one mili. Included in the document is a list of items to be repaired, replaced or added to each school, new equipment to be added to all schools according to subject área, fees for architectural and engineering services and a contingency fund. The total bilí is $4,752,537. A few of the items in the list of work to be done include: building modifications at almost all of the schools to meet the needs of handicapped persons, $4,500 for each school; general painting of all schools, $100,000; renovation of driveways, parking lots and sidewalks of all schools, $80,000; replace 43 buses, $473, 000; playground equipment, $26,700; library books for schools, $280,957 and audio visual materials, $272,013. To meet equipment needs at all schools the following additions have been tentatively planned: science, $150,000; art, $9,850; industrial and occupationaj education, $250,000; music, $122,870; reading, $75,000; cable televisión, $37,000; central duplicating center, $2,644; recreation, (in addition to equipment Usted in the schools), $9,600. The request for funding for renovation and improvement of sites, building and equipment at the individual schools range from $5,230 at Clague Middle School to $409,570 at Pioneer High School. Requests total $196,501 at Huron and $94.495 at Communitv. (Gont'd. on next page;