15 Per, Cent Turnout Expecte For School Vote Monday

Only about 15 per cent of Ann Arbor School District's 80,000 registered voters are expected to go to the polls Monday to vote on two "critical" tax issues. Voters will be asked to approve a 6.67mill renewal plus an additional one-mill levy for refurbishing and repairing sites, buildings and equipment. Board of Education President Duane Renken said it is critical voters approve the 6.67 milis which raise about $5 million annually ör about 20 per cent of the school district's $26 million budeet. The levy expires Dec. 31. "We must at least maintain the existing budget," Renken said. "Even with the renewal, it witlrbe necessary to keep the schools operating with a decrease in state aid and overall increase in cost in terms of salaries, Utilities and other operationalcosts." Voter approval of Proposal A, the fiveyear renewal, will not increase the tax levy now used for supporting the schools. Ballot language, as required by law, labels the proposal an "increase" but it is not an increase in taxes, Supt. Harry Howard said. Taxpayers will continue to pay 32.55 milis for operating expenses. If voters reject the 6.67-mill renewal, the Board of Education would probably renew the request in June, Howard said. Voter approval of Proposal B, a separate levy for upgrading of buildings, sites and equipment, will increase the tax rate by one mili. The owner of a house with a market value of $30,000, which is assessed and equalized at $15,000, could expect to pay $15 more in taxes per year if the one mili isapproved. The administration has identified some $4,752,537 of requests for renovations and improvements if the one mili is approved. Revenue from the one mili is expected to total approximately $800,000 per year for five years. Pnonties for the building and site fund revenues will be decided annually by the Board of Education, Howard said. Labeled by some a "businessman's millage," Renken said he views the one mili as a stewardship millage. During the last 10 years the easiest way to cut the budget has been to decrease maintenance and custodial costs, according to the school board president. Passage of the one mili is essential to restore the school district's facilities and prevent further deterioraron, Renken said. Some needs identified include replacing and repairing roofs, building new parking lots, painting buildings, modifying buildings to meet . needs of handicapped persons, purchasing new equipment for vocational, science, art and music classes, and acquiring library books for the schools. The superintendent said Ann Arbor, like most Michigan school districts, has been forced in the last few years to cut maintenance budgets in favor of sustaining the educational program for students. To relieve operating budget pressures, some 65 out of Michigan's 600 school districts are levying separate millages for building and site funds to overeóme the problem, Howard said. Because tne one-mill levy will be in a separate building and site fund, it cannot be used for salaries, or other öperating costs, according to Howard. Approval of the additional one mili will have a minimal indirect effect on educational programs, according to the superintendent. If a roof blows off or boiler breaks, money won 't have to be taken from the öperating budget for repairs, he said. Polls will be open Monday from 7 a.m. to8p.m. ■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■ mr ■ ir . ■ -------------- Service Offered ■ The Arm Arbor League of Women Voters will offer information on Monday's Ann Arbor School District millage election. Persons with questions may cali 761-0978, 971-3428 or 971-7985.