Brought to you by Election Magic Special Statewide Election - 5/5/2015

Proposal Text

State Proposal 15-1 -- Amend State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax to 7%

A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. The proposed constitutional amendment would: • Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads. • Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF). • Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities. • Give effect to laws, including those that: • Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment. • Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes. • Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects. • Increase earned income tax credit. Should this proposal be adopted?

City of Albion Recreation Renewal Millage -- renew current levy of 1-1/2 mills for 3 years

Shall the City of Albion renew the current levy of a total of one and one half mills ($1.50 per $1,000.00) on taxable value of property located in the City of Albion for three years beginning with the 2016 tax levy year and running through the 2018 tax levy year (inclusive), which will raise in the first year of such tax levy an estimated revenue of One Hundred Forty One Thousand Dollars ($141,000.00) to be used for the specific purpose of continuing to operate City of Albion recreation programs for young people, adults, families, and senior citizens? Taxes within the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) districts will be distributed as prescribed by law. If approved this would be a renewal of the current millage levy.

City of Albion Street Renewal Millage -- Renew levy of 3 mills for 5 years

Shall the City of Albion renew a levy of three mills ($3.00 per $1,000.00) on taxable value of property located in the City of Albion for five years beginning with the 2016 tax levy year and running through the 2020 tax levy year (inclusive), which will raise in the first year of such tax levy an estimated revenue of Two Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand Dollars ($282,000.00) to be used for the specific purpose of rehabilitating and reconstructing Albion’s streets? Taxes within the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) districts will be distributed as prescribed by law. If approved this would be a renewal of an existing millage.

Eckford Township Increase to Offset Headlee Rollbacks -- increase of up to .1058 mills for 10 years

Shall the voted allocated township millage rate of 1 mill ($1 per $1,000 of taxable value), reduced to .8942 mills ($.89 per $1,000 of taxable value) by the required millage rollbacks, be increased up to .1058 mills ($.11 per $1,000 of taxable value) to the original allocated rate to recover that millage reduction and be levied by Eckford Township, for 10 years, 2015 through 2024 inclusive, for general operating purposes, which .1058-mill increase will raise an estimated $5990 in the first year the millage is levied.

Climax-Scotts Community Schools Operating Millage Renewal -- renew 18 mills for 4 years

This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2015 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Climax-Scotts Community Schools, Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 4 years, 2016 to 2019, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2016 is approximately $293,108 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

Hastings Area School System I. Bond Proposal -- borrow up to $55,000,000

Shall Hastings Area School System, Barry and Calhoun Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Fifty-Five Million Dollars ($55,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, furnishing and re-furnishing and equipping and re-equipping all school buildings; acquiring, installing and equipping or re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; purchasing school buses; erecting, furnishing and equipping a new transportation facility; and preparing, developing, equipping, and improving playgrounds, athletic facilities and sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2015, under current law, is 4.10 mills ($4.10 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 6.08 mills ($6.08 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $4,567,221 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $5,001,953. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 22 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7.00 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $7,715,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $-0-. (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.)

Hastings Area School System II. Millage, Bldg. & Site Sinking Fund -- increase levy up to 1 mill for 10 years

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Hastings Area School System, Barry and Calhoun Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 1 mill ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2015 to 2024, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2015 is approximately $543,270?

Marshall Public Schools I. Millage Renewal, Bldg. & Site Sinking Fund -- renew 1 mill for 8 years

Shall the currently authorized limitation of 1 mill ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Marshall Public Schools, Calhoun County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 8 years, 2016 to 2023, inclusive, to continue to provide for a sinking fund for the purchase of real estate for sites for, and the construction or repair of, school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2016 is approximately $474,247 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

Marshall Public Schools II. Operating Millage Renewal -- increase of 18 mills for 4 years

rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, 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, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Marshall Public Schools, Calhoun County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2015 to 2018, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2015 is approximately $2,357,791 (this is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2014 tax levy)?

Union City Community Schools Millage Renewal, Bldg. & Site Sinking Fund -- renew 3.5 mills for 6 years

Shall the currently authorized millage rate of 3.5 mills ($3.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) which may be assessed against all property in Union City Community Schools, Branch and Calhoun Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 6 years, 2016 to 2021, inclusive, to continue to provide for a sinking fund for the purchase of real estate for sites for, and the construction or repair of school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2016 is approximately $455,000 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

KRESA Special Education Millage -- increase of 1.5 mills for 6 years

This proposal will increase the levy by Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (Kalamazoo RESA) of special education millage previously approved by the electors. The revenue raised by the proposed millage will be levied and collected by Kalamazoo RESA and will be used to fund special education services to students with disabilities. Shall the 3.00 mills limitation (which has been reduced to 2.8970 mills as required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963) on the annual property tax previously approved by the electors of Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency, Michigan (Kalamazoo RESA), for the education for students with a disability be increased by 1.5 mills ($1.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of 6 years, 2015 to 2020, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue Kalamazoo RESA will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2015 is approximately $10,850,000 from local property taxes authorized herein?