School Board President Details Proposed Millage

Northville Patch sat down with Northville school board president Joan Wadsworth to talk more about a proposed sinking fund millage that would bring an estimated $2.4 million to the district. Wadsworth explained why the funds are neceessary and explains how it would be used.

Question: What is a sinking fund millage?

It is a millage levied for school capital improvements such as replacing a heating system, repairing roofs, fixing asphalt, building renovation and such, Wadsworth said.

Question: How much would be levied?

While the sinking fund committee initially recommended 1 mill for 10 years, as reported by assistant superintendent of operations and finance, Michael Zopf, they reduced the number of years. It would be 1 mill for five years if passed, she said.

Question: How much would it cost? How much would it raise?

About $2.4 million would be raised if the millage is approved by Northville voters, Wadsworth said. Each home would pay .1 percent more in property taxes. For example, if a house's taxable value is $200,000 the tax would be $200.

Question: Why does the school board believe it is needed?

In addition to paying for repairs that have been tabled during the district's tough economic times – including a forecasted $1.5 million deficit, rising health care costs, plateaued student enrollment resulting in no additional state per pupil dollars and the recent announcement of a minimum $470 per pupil loss – it would also safeguard the rest of the district's budget, she said.

"If we were to have an emergency, it would come out of general fund," she said. "And right now, there’s no money allocated for this kind of thing."

Wadsworth said that if the school's general fund were to be used to pay for an emergency repair, it would result in cuts in other areas.

Question: Can it be used for personnel costs?

No. 

"It cannot be used for salaries," she said.

Personnel costs comprise the largest percentage of the district's budget. And while those costs are rising, she said, the sinking fund cannot be used for the district's employees.

Question: Do you think it will be successful in Northville?

"I think we’ve had very strong support," she said, referring to previous millages and bonds. "There will be an effort to educate the public. Basically our community has invested a great deal into our school district and this is a great opportunity for our commuty to protect our investment."

She added, "And second, in a small way, it’s a way to keep the general fund monies in the classroom and busing and things like that. That protects the general fund."