Brought to you by Election Magic 5/1/2013 - 5/7/2013

Proposal Text

Benton Harbor City Charter Authorized Millage Restoration -- Millage Restoration

This proposal would restore the perpetual City of Benton Harbor Charter millage authorization previously approved by the electors, and rolled back by opeeration of the Headlee amendment, to 10 mills. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the City of Benton Harbor, County of Berrien, Michigan, be increased by 2.0694 mills ($2.0694 dollars per thousand dollars of taxable value) as new additional millage in excess of the limitation imposed by Michigan Compiled Laws section 211.34d, to restore City Charter millage authorzation previously approved by the electors as reduced by operation of the Headlee amendment, to provide funds for general operating purposes? It is estimated that 2.0694 mills would raise approximately $242,410 when first levied in 2013.

Benton Harbor City General Operating Millage Proposal -- General Operating Millage Proposal

This proposal would allow the City of Benton Harbor to fund general operations in the City by levying the 10 general operating mills which expired in 2011. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on all taxable property in teh City of Benton Harbor, County of Berrien, Michigan, be increased by 10 mills ($10 dollars per thousand dollars of taxabel value) for a period of ten (10) years, 2013 through 2022, inclusive, as a new additional millage to provide funds for general operating purposes? It is estimated that 10 mills would raise appoximately $1,171,401 when first levied in 2013.

Watervliet City Fire Proposal Renewal -- Fire Proposal Renewal

Shall the City of Watervliet continue to levy a total of two (2) mills, which is equal to $2.00 for each $1,000.00 of taxabel value, on the real and personal proberty subject to taxation in the City of Watervliet for the tax levy years of 2013, 2014, 2015 inclusive for the purpose of paying for fire protection services within the City, thereby raising in the first calendar year approximately $59,000.00. If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

Watervliet City Police Proposal Renewal -- Police Proposal Renewal

Shall the City of Watervliet continue to levy a total of two (3) mills, which is equal to $3.00 for each $1,000.00 of taxabel value, on the real and personal proberty subject to taxation in the City of Watervliet for the tax levy years of 2013, 2014, 2015 inclusive for the purpose of paying for police protection services within the City, thereby raising in the first calendar year approximately $88,400.00. If approved, this would be a renewal of a previously authorized millage.

Buchanan Community Schools Bonding Proposal -- Bonding Proposal

Shall Buchanan Community Schools, Berrien County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Fourteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to, and remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping school facilities; acquiring, installing and equipping educational technology; constructing, equipping, developing and improving playfields, playgounds and tennis courts; and developing and improving sites? The following is for information purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds 2013, under current law, is 2.19 mills ($2.19 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- net increase in debt millage. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty (20) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.17 mills ($3.17 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district currently has $2,980,000 of qualified bonds outstanding and $-0- qualified loans currently outstanding under the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program. The school district does not expect to obtain loans from the program to repay these bonds. The estimated computed millage reate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. (Pursuant to State Law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

Lakeshore Public Schools #1 Bonding Proposal -- #1 Bonding Proposal

Shall Lakeshore Public Schools, Berrien County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirty-Six Million Seven Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($36,760,000) and issue it general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing and equipping and re-equipping schools buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; and preparing, developing and improving sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2013, under current law, is 2.20 mills ($2.20 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-five (25) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.54 mills ($2.54 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district currently has $6,230,000 of qualified bonds outstanding and $0 of qualified loans currently outstanding, under teh State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program. The school district does not expect to obtain loans from the program to repay these bonds. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. (Pursuant to State Law, expenditure of bonds proceeds mut be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

Lakeshore Public Schools #2 Bonding Proposal -- #2 Bonding Proposal

Shall Lakeshore Public Schools, Berrien County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Sixteen Million Eight Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($16,87,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping a new elementary school building; erecting additions to a school building; remodeling elementary school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for a new elementary school building; and preparing, developing and improving a playground and sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2013, under current law, is 1.00 mills ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-five (25) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.15 mills ($1.15 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district curretnly has $6,230,000 of qualified bonds outstanding and $0 of qualified loans currently outstanding under the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program. The school district does not expect to obtain loans from the program to repay these bonds. Teh estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)