Posted on Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.
Voters reject $12.3 million bond proposal in Whitmore Lake
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Voters in the Whitmore Lake school district rejected by a margin of more than 2 to 1 a bond proposal that would have paid for facility upgrades, buses and athletic facilities.
Whitmore Lake High School
Whitmore Lake Public Schools photo
The estimated tax rate to pay back the bond was 2.5 mills in the first year. The millage rate would have meant a homeowner with a house of $100,000 taxable value would pay $250 per year on top of his or her existing tax burden.
The district encompasses parts of Washtenaw and Livingston counties.
Comments
Judy
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 6:52 p.m.
Proposal A, saved many people, the real blame goes to School Boards who have continue to spend more money than they receive year, after year, after year for the last 20 + years. Michigan Taxpayer's are not an endless money bucket. School districts, with school boards that can not work within a balanced budget need to go.
It's hard to hide from facts
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 5:16 a.m.
Will the last person out of Whitmore Lake please remember to shut off the lights? That town is spiraling downward, growth and expansion is happening all around you but not there. If the community can't support the local schools it can't go anywhere. A strong and viable school district is the core of a community, it supports housing values and creates demand to live there. Wake up Whitmore!
HormonallyDrivenSeniorBoy
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 6:52 p.m.
The reason this proposal failed is because it doesn't address the main issue WL schools currently face. Which is their is not enough revenue to support the school. This is due to a lack of students and improper budgeting/spending. I suggest everyone in this town wake up and recognize that passing this mileage is putting a band aid on the real problem. You can't spend 12 million dollars on technology and other upgrades when their isn't going to be enough money to keep the lights on 2-3 years from now. WL will be running a budget deficit. The way to solve this isn't by passing a mileage to fund upgrades- rather pass a mileage that will keep the lights on and the doors open. The door to the high school do not need to be reconfigured. The items in the mileage are absurd and the school board needs to address the true issue- how the school will stay open in the next 3-5 years.
Trojan Red
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 2:46 a.m.
Now you've widen the lens beyond the bond itself. And you are correct, WLPS isn't sustainable at its current size and state funding. If we broaden the lens some more, we have the Northfield Neighbors to thank for their anti growth efforts. They drove off Grand Sakwa and their 200 acre residential housing project (ironically this project was across the road from the high school). If I remember right, the plan was for 500 homes. If just 150 students lived in that development, it would have meant nearly $1M more is funding. Thanks Northfield Neighbors!
Trojan Red
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.
I voted against this bond but I hope the school board tries again with a better proposal. I agree that some of what was being requested was valid and needs to be addressed. There are a couple of reason for this bond failure. First off, it looked too much like an open $12M check. The bond was heavy on the amount and light on specifics and details. No one could say what and how much would be spent on security. A lot of people felt that the million earmarked for athletic upgrades would include artificial turf on the football field. Too much discretionary spending on too generally described projects. Next, it's always a red flag when these types of issues are presented in a special election. They presented this in a special election in hopes that passionate voters would approve the bond and dissenting voters would stay home. My guess is had this been present in a general election, the outcome would have been even m lopsided. But the biggest reason is Whitmore has lost trust and confidence in the school board. They have moved 6th grades out of the middle school to the elementary school and pushed the 8th graders to the high school. Particularly parents of 8th grade girls are upset to know their daughters are going to taking some classes with hormonally driven senior boys. I can't tell you how many people I know that are pouring out of WLPS to go to Pinkney or South Lyon because of this. Add on top all of that all the cuts and where those cuts where. They have cut the number of teachers, outsource the janitorial services, cut bussing, cut programs, but weren't able to pull back a single penny of the top administrators. Come back with a line item proposal and give the assurance that my tax dollars are going to be spend prudentially and you'll have my vote.
Trojan Red
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 2:50 a.m.
Hehehe, I like that you've taken my sarcastic description of the senior boys as your handle! I don't have daughters and I don't agree with the parents that think this. I'm simply providing insight on one of the many contentious problems our school board has created.
HormonallyDrivenSeniorBoy
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 6:51 p.m.
Trojan Red, are you serious? 8th grade students will at most be in one class with senior boys, a multi-media class. I would be more concerned about the way you raise your daughter so that her hormones don't affect the decisions she makes. Maybe the problem is that the 8th grade girls want to appear "cool" in front of their friends and try and flirt with older guys. Moving the 8th graders up saves money for the school. The reason this proposal failed is because it doesn't address the main issue WL schools currently face. Which is their is not enough revenue to support the school. This is due to a lack of students and improper budgeting/spending. I suggest everyone in this town wake up and recognize that passing this mileage is putting a band aid on the real problem. You can't spend 12 million dollars on technology and other upgrades when their isn't going to be enough money to keep the lights on 2-3 years from now. WL will be running a budget deficit. The way to solve this isn't by passing a mileage to fund upgrades- rather pass a mileage that will keep the lights on and the doors open. The door to the high school do not need to be reconfigured. The items in the mileage are absurd and the school board needs to address the true issue- how the school will stay open in the next 3-5 years.
Trojan Red
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 5:36 p.m.
Sheesh, I need to "proffread" before hitting the button. even *more* lopsided They have moved *5th graders*
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
"I'm disappointed that I saw no coverage of this in annarbor.com BEFORE the election" Unfortunately many people are unwilling to pay for local news coverage. I suspect a2.com does not have the budget that some might think or hope. The press plays a critical role in bringing the actions of local governments to light. It is shocking what some governments try and slip by, an bury, when they think only their cronies are watching. But now more than ever, local communities can report their own news on the web. Organize the people in your village.
Judy
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
AnnArbor.com has a budget to delete comments 24/7!
DonBee
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
A letter to the editor probably would have been run by AA.COM if it was well written and given to them at least 2 weeks before the millage vote. AA.COM does not have infinite resources, but they seem to be able to run opinion pieces and letters when they get them. This is probably the best way to get coverage on a millage or other community issue.
snoopdog
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
Taxpayers are maxed out and tired of paying public employees grand benefits that they will never themselves have. MESSA ( Cadillac health insurance), retirement and a pension at the age of 52 and then taxpayer funded health insurance for the rest of their lives. Building High Schools that look like World HQ's for Fortune 500 companies and then asking taxpayers to keep them in tip top shape is ridiculous. Many of us cannot afford proper upkeep of our own homes. Am I supposed to get a second job and work 70 hours a week to support higher taxes going to public sector union workers? My vote is no! Good Day
Topher
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 2:57 a.m.
Snoopdog, you don't already work 70 hours per week? That's my basic week as a (good) teacher. Add on top of that my part-time job and my summer job and I barely pay bills. Why do we even need schools anymore? Can't students learn everything they need to know from the Internet?
Mike
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 7:45 p.m.
Good post Snoopdog!
DonBee
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
WLMom - Directly you are absolutely correct, the money to do this work right now is coming from the general fund. Should that general fund money not be needed for maintenance, then that money is available to do other things, including paying salaries. Adding money in one area that can't be used for a specific purpose, does open up money that is currently being spent to be used in a different fashion.
WLMom
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 2:39 p.m.
None of that money would have gone to staff salaries or benefits. It would have gone to the upkeep of the school buildings and technology and other updates for our KIDS. I understand that the average taxpayer does not have a lot of extra money, if any, but aren't our kids' futures worth it? Taxes are meant to fund public entities, including public schools. Considering the benefits and pensions of elected officials (the same elected officials that keep taking money away from schools), I would direct my anger elsewhere.
The Dude
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
When will people stop voting party lines and what is best for community? It would have cost me $9 a month for this milage. I am going to send my $10 a month in. I call for a volunteer milage! 1786 August 13 Thomas Jefferson "I think by far the most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised, for the preservation of freedom and happiness...Preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish & improve the law for educating the common people. Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils [tyranny, oppression, etc.] and that the tax which will be paid for this purpose is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance."
SalineTeacher
Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.
@The Dude: your bond question was the partisan section of the ballot? Interesting...mine never was. And from http://electionresults.ewashtenaw.org/electionreporting/aug2013/canvassreport8.html, almost 19% (a very respectable turnout, considering the timing) of Whitmore Lake voters decided "what is best for [the or their] community."
Mike
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 7:45 p.m.
Add up all of the other "millages" (taxes) in your life and you will see this is no small matter, but you are welcome to send in an extra $10 per month. Since you seem to have deep pockets I would hope and appreciate that you would send in more like maybe $100 or more per month. Our POTUS defines a patriot as one who is willing to pay higher taxes, I define that as a masochist who likes to support government bureacracy and waste
WLMom
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
I realized I misspoke - 92% of that money would have been spent on building renovations (49%) AND technology (43%), with 82% of the renovation monies going to Elementary and Middle School. It also cut of my last statement, so let me reiterate for you Tom - "You sir, should feel ashamed of yourself!"
WLMom
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
@Tom - Frills? Really? A new roof on the middle school is a "frill"? New security systems at the entrances are "frills"? How about new technology so that our children can keep up with the rest of the world? Did you know that only 8% of the bond was for your so-called frill of expanding athletics and busses? How dare we expect our children/athletes to have decent and adequate equipment and facilities! By the way, student athletes are more likely to graduate and go on to college, but who needs that kind of "frill"? And new busses to replace older, worn out busses that require heavy amounts of maintenance - the horror! However, the other 92% of that money would have been spent on much needed building renovations (with 82% of that going to the Elementary and Middle Schools). Did you know that the middle school roof leaks, and at least once a year a classroom (or two) gets flooded? That money would have also gone to security updates, including new surveillance systems and door access controls. You must not have children in the district, because a couple hundred extra dollars a year is a small price to pay for the safety of my children (of which I have two in the district). The state gives very little money to schools these days, and is constantly taking more away with each year's budget cuts; yet schools are constantly asked to do more with less. You want us to "return to the basics", but without that bond money, we barely have enough money for those "basics"! We are a small district, and are struggling to keep our head above water. Money will now need to come out of the general fund for some of these items, which means less for the education of my children. So to all the people who voted no on this bond, I truly hope they feel guilty and remorseful when the school district has to either go into defecit spending, close a building, or worse, dissolve and force our children to attend another school. You sir, should feel ash
Tom
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
What possible "diffusion of knowledge" is achieved by expanding athletics programs, school busses and facilities? As far as I know, Jefferson couldn't apply these to the populace. Time to return to the basics without all the frills.
Up in Northfield
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 10:57 a.m.
I'm disappointed that I saw no coverage of this in annarbor.com BEFORE the election. There are important issues to be addressed about the future of Whitmore Lake Public Schools, which is a miniscule district.
Goober
Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 11:45 a.m.
AA.com covers only what they want instead of serving the many local communities.