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

Proposal Text

PROPOSAL 15-1 -- PROPOSAL 15-1

PROPOSAL 15-1 A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM SALES TAX RATE FROM 6% TO 7%, ELIMINATE SALES AND USE TAXES ON GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL, DEDICATE A PORTION OF USE TAX REVENUE TO THE SCHOOL AID FUND, REVISE PERMISSABLE USES OF THE SCHOOL AID FUND, AND TRIGGER OTHER LAWS THAT INCLUDE DEDICATING REVENUE FOR ROADS AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES. The proposed constitutional amendment would: • Set maximum sales tax rate at 7% (now 6%). • Exempt gasoline / diesel fuel from sales and use taxes. • Dedicate portion of use tax to School Aid Fund (SAF). • Allow use of SAF for public community colleges and career / technical education and prohibit use for higher education. • Trigger laws that include but not limited to: o Increase sales / use tax rates to 7%; o Increase motor fuel tax on gasoline / diesel fuel and vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes; o Require competitive bidding and warranties for road projects; and o Increase earned income tax credit. Should this proposal be adopted?

EDWARDSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL

EDWARDSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal will allow the school district to continue 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. 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 Edwardsburg Public Schools, Cass County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for the year 2015, 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 $1,864,871 (this is a renewal millage which expired with the 2014 tax levy)?

MARCELLUS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS -- OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL

MARCELLUS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal will allow the school district to continue 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 Marcellus Community Schools, Cass, St. Joseph and VanBuren Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2016 to 2020, 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 $904,703 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

MARCELLUS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS -- OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL

MARCELLUS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL This proposal will allow the school district to restore millage lost as a result of a reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction, and renews millage that will expire with the 2015 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 1.5 mills ($1.50 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 Marcellus Community Schools, Cass, St. Joseph and Van Buren Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2016 to 2020, 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 $-0- (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of a reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)(this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

NILES COMMUNITY SCHOOLS -- BONDING PROPOSAL I

Niles Community Schools Bonding Proposal I Shall Niles Community Schools, Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Nine Million Seven Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($29,770,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: partially remodeling school facilities; acquiring, installing and equipping district-wide communication, security, and instructional technology systems for schools facilities; erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to Howard Elementary School and Ring Lardner Middle School; and developing and improving sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2015 is 2.89 mills($2.89 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.47 mills ($2.47 on each $1,000 taxable valuation). The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $-0-. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $-0-. The 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 proveeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

NILES COMMUNITY SCHOOLS -- BONDING PROPOSAL II

Bonding Proposal II Shall Niles Community Schools, Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Ten Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,300,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school facilities and developing and improving sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2015 is 1 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 thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 0.85 mill ($0.85 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $-0-. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $-0-. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

THREE RIVERS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS -- MILLAGE PROP BLDG & SITE SINKING FUND TAX LEVY

THREE RIVERS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MILLAGE PROPOSAL BUILDING AND SITE SINKING FUND TAX LEVY Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Three Rivers Community Schools, St. Joseph and Cass Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 1.95 mills ($1.95 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 8 years, 2015 to 2022, 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 $1,238,400.