Brought to you by Election Magic May School Election - 5/2/2006

Proposal Text

Allegan Schools Operating Millage -- Operating Millage

This proposal will enable the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property except principal residence and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, exempting therefrom principal residence and qualified agricultural property as defined by law, in Allegan Public Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, be increased by 1.5 mills ($1.50 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2006 and 2007, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2006 is approximately $180,000 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?

Fennville Schools Operating Millage Renewal -- Operating Milleage Renewal

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property except principal residence and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, exempting therefrom principal residence and qualified agricultural property as defined by law, in Fennville Public Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) for the year 2006, to provide funds for operating purposes; if approved, the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect the first year of levy, 2006, is approximately $1,723,571 (this is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2005 tax levy)?

Glenn Schools Operating Millage -- Operating Millage

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property except principal residence and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, exempting therefrom principal residence and qualified agricultural property as defined by law, in Glenn Public School, Allegan County, Michigan, be increased by .75 mill ($0.75 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) for the year 2006, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2006 is approximately $14,500 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?

Hamilton Schools Operating Millage Renewal -- Operating Millage Renewal

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property except principal residence and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, excempting therefrom principal residence and qualified agricultural property as defined by law, in Hamilton Community Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) for the year 2006, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2006 is approximately $4,111,534 (this is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2005 tax levy)?

Hopkins Schools Operating Millage Renewal -- Operating Millage Renewal

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property except principal residence and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, exempting therefrom principal residence and qualified agricultural property as defined by law, in Hopkins Public Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) for the year 2006, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2006 is approximately $484,250 (this is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2005 tax levy)?

Saugatuck Schools Operating Millage Renewal -- Operating Millage Renewal

This proposal will allow the school district to maintain the number of mills required to be levied on all property to enable the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews operating millage that expired with the 2005 tax levy. Shall the total limitation on the amount of taxes for operating purposes which may be assessed against all property, exempting therefrom principal residence and qualified agricultural property as defined by law, in Saugatuck Public Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) (17.8369 mills of the foregoing is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2005 tax levy and .1631 mill is a restoration of millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963) and against all principal residences and qualified agricultural property by 1.4868 mills ($1,4868 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) (this is a renewal of previously authorized millage which expired with the 2005 tax levy), both millages to be for the year 2006; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect from combined local property taxes authorized herein if the millage is approved and levied in 2006 is approximately $4,180,950?

Wayland Schools Operating Millage -- Operating Millage

This millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 to enable the school district to levy the statutory rate on all property except principal residence and qualified agricultural property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, exempting therefrom principal residence and qualified agricultural property as defined by law, in Wayland Union School District, Allegan, Barry and Kent Counties, Michigan, be increased by .7 mill ($0.70 on each $1,000.00 of taxable valuation) for a period of 9 years, 2006 to 2014, inclusive, to coincide with existing basic millage and to provide funds for operating purposes; if approved, the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect the first year of levy, 2006, is approximately $80,583?

Charter Amendment Proposal 1 -- Section 4.4(a)

This amendment would amend Section 4.4(a) of the City Charter to change the requirement for eligibility for election to City office. It would reduce the minimum age for eligibility from 25 years to 18 years and would eliminate the requirement to be a freeholder (landowner). The requirement to be a freeholder (landowner) has been unenforceable for many years as a result of court decisions.

Charter Amendment Proposal 2 -- Section 7.8

This amendment would repeal section 7.8 of the City Charter. This section established the salary of the Assessor and Treasurer initially at $1,200 per year when the City incorporated from a Village into a City in 1966 and also provides for payment of their expenses. It further provides that the City Council can change the compensation by resolution at least three months before any regular council election. The compensation of the Assessor and Treasurer is now established like other appointed City officers under section 4.2(b) of the City Charter.

Charter Amendment Proposal 3 -- Section 14.1(b)

This amendment would amend Section 14.1(b) of the City Charter to change the City officials who are authorized to sign City contracts. The City Charter currently requires the Mayor and Clerk to sign contracts after approval by the City Council. This proposal would authorize the City Manager to sign contracts after approval by the City Council, unless the City Council, when approving a contract, authorizes a different City officer or officers to sign the contract.

Charter Amendment Proposal 4 -- Chapter 9 Repeal

The Amendment would repeal Chapter 9 of the City Charter, which provides for the election of City representatives to the County Board of Commissioner at the regular City election in each odd numbered year. This Chapter has been superseded by state law, MCL 46.401 et seq., which provides for the election of members of the County Boad of Commissioners.

Charter Amendment Proposal 5 -- Section 10.4

This amendment would amend Section 10.4 of the City Charter to change the regular city election date from the first Monday in April to the first Tuesday following the first Monday in May. This change would make the wording of Section 10.4 consistent with recent changes in Michigan Election Law and reflect the City's current holding of annual elections in May, rather than in April, due to the changes in Michigan Election Law.