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

Proposal Text

State Proposal 15-1 -- Increase Sales Tax

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?

Byron Township Proposal No. 1 -- Submission to Electors of Ordinance No. 563, Adopted October 13, 2014

Township Ordinance No. 563 rezoned certain lands located at about 2131 - 64th Street, from the R-R Rural Residential District to the MFR Multi-Family Residential District. Ordinance No. 563 provides that it shall not be effective unless Ordinance No. 564, as described in Proposal No. 2, becomes effective. Shall Ordinance No. 563 be approved?

Byron Township Proposal No. 2 -- Submission to Electors of Ordinance No. 564 Adopted October 13, 2014

Township Ordinance No. 564 rezoned certain lands located at about 2131 - 64th Street, from the MFR Multi-Family Residential District to the MFR-PUD Multi-Family Residential Planned Unit Development District, in accordance with the Development Plan of the Springs at Byron Township Planned Unit Development, Ordinance No. 564 provides that it shall not be effective unless Ordinance No. 563, as described in Proposal No. 1, becomes effective. Shall Ordinance No. 564 be approved?

East Grand Rapids Proposal -- Dedicated Millage for Maintenance and Construction of Streets and Sidewalks

The City of East Grand Rapids Charter authorizes the City to levy up to 20 mills for general municipal purposes. Due to required millage rollbacks the City currently levies 13.3119 mills. Shall a partial

Caledonia 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 Caledonia Community Schools, Kent, Allegan and Barry 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 $8,177,356 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

Forest Hills 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 and renews millage that will expire with the 2015 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18.3424 mills ($18.3424 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 Forest Hills Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2016 to 2025, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2016 is approximately $15,000,000 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

Godwin Heights Public Schools -- Bonding Proposal

Shall Godwin Heights Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Fourteen Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,100,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to and partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping school facilities, in part, for security and energy conservation improvements; acquiring, installing and equipping instructional technology for school facilities; purchasing and equipping school buses; constructing, equipping, developing and improving athletic and physical education facilities, playfields and playgrounds; 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 1.60 mills ($1.60 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 fifteen (15) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.39 mills ($3.39 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). (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.)

Kenowa Hills Public Schools -- Bonding Proposal

Shall Kenowa Hills Public Schools, Kent and Ottawa Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Seventy-Eight Million Six Hundred Forty Thousand ($78,640,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping a new early childhood building; erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, equipping or re-equipping and furnishing or refurnishing school buildings; acquiring, installing, equipping or re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; purchasing school buses; and acquiring, preparing, developing, improving, and equipping playgrounds, play fields, athletic facilities, and sites? The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2015 is 1.95 mills ($1.95 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a net 1.65 mill increase from the prior year's levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series 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 3.22 mills ($3.22 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 toal amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $26,465,000. 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 proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

Kentwood Public Schools Proposal I. -- Bonding Proposal

Shall Kentwood Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Sixty-Four Million Eight Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($64,860,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; acquiring, installing and equipping or re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; purchasing school buses; and acquiring, preparing, developing, improving and equipping athletic facilities, athletic fields, play fields and sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2015 is 1.23 mills ($1.23 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a new -0- mill increase from the prior year's levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refundings, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.35 mills ($1.35 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). (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.)

Kentwood Public Schools Proposal II. -- Millage Renewal Proposal Building and Site Sinking Fund Tax Levy

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 1.6 mills ($1.60 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Kentwood Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2016 to 2025, inclusive, to continue to provide for a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and all other purposes authoried by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2016 is approximately $3,200,000 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?