A number of voters in Muskegon County today are heading to the polls, as bond proposals for some area schools are on the ballot. As Fruitport Community Schools is putting the finishing touches on its new state of the art high school, voters are being asked again to support the district with an $8 million bond proposal would pay for upgrades including artificial turf for the high school football field and converting the middle school pool into a gymnasium, however, the new bond proposal will not raise Fruitport resident’s taxes.
Superintendent Bob Syzmoniak says a vote ‘yes’ should be a no-brainer for residents:
“We are actually not asking for more money from our taxpayers, this is a zero mil bond issue,” Syzmoniak said. We are able to do that because the taxable base has grown faster than we have needed to pay off our bond debt, but we can’t access that money unless we request a bond issue, so that is what we are doing tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, officials at Reeths-Puffer Schools are asking voters to consider a millage that the district says-- it's in desperate need of to bring its buildings into the 21st century, but comes with a price tag of $1.95 for every $1,000 of taxable value--meaning, a home valued at $120,000 would see an increase of nearly $10 a month, or $117 per year.
Superintendent Steve Edwards says he knows that is asking a lot of some residents, certainly in the midst of a lingering pandemic, but the investment he says-- will pay off.
“I completely understand that the pandemic, and the current times, is hard on everyone,” Edwards said. “One of the fastest ways to accelerate opportunities for a community relative to the value of your home, is to invest in schools.”
Other decisions along the lakeshore Tuesday fall in Grand Haven and the Ravanna school districts, while the White Lake Ambulance Authority is seeking a five-year renewal operating levy that would collect a total of roughly $770k.