Dear Editor:
Voters in the Chelsea School District are being asked to go to the polls on May 7 to vote on an Operating and Headlee Override Millage Renewal.
This is a tax on second homes, business property, and rental property, and does not affect a taxpayer’s family residence (homestead property). This vote is not a tax increase for anyone, and is simply a renewal of a tax levy which has been in place since the passage of Proposal A in 1994.
Since Proposal A was passed as an amendment to Michigan’s constitution, the local property taxes the community pays for public schools sidestep our public schools and are sent to Lansing for redistribution to all public school districts in the State. Under Proposal A, Michigan districts are funded on a per pupil basis known as a foundation grant. State aid funds a portion of the foundation grant and our school district is required to levy 18 mills locally in order to receive the full foundation grant.
If this millage is not renewed, the Chelsea School District will lose about $3.5 million in revenue, or about 14 percent of their annual budget. This is a loss we cannot sustain, as it will force the schools to reduce or even cut programs. Our district has no other means to generate these funds, so this millage is an absolutely essential part of school funding.
There is a lot at stake on this ballot, and the last problem our schools need is a loss of local support for existing millage. Let’s not lose these vital funds needed to support our award-winning school district.
This millage renewal proposal is one that we need to support in Chelsea. Please vote “Yes” on May 7 and secure Chelsea as a destination city to live, work, play, and raise children.
For more information regarding the millage renewal vote, please visit the Chelsea School District’s web page, www.chelsea.k12.mi.us.
Thank you,
Bill Harmer, director
Chelsea District Library
