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November 1, 2024
GLPS Families,
Here we are in November! Hopefully, Halloween was fun last evening for those who celebrated, and I certainly enjoyed getting around to all of the schools yesterday to see the various celebrations across the district. As you know, the next big day coming up on the calendar is Election Day, next Tuesday, November 5th. Our right to vote and to have our voice heard and count in the direction of our communities, state, and country is the cornerstone of our system of government, and it is important that we engage in the process. To those ends, locally here at GLPS, next Tuesday’s election will have a tremendous impact on the future of our school district, as there are a number of items on the ballot that will impact us directly.
If you think back to the summer, we provided information in the microINSIDER that was mailed to your home about our Operating Millage and Sinking Fund. We pride ourselves on being strong stewards of the resources you provide for us, so neither initiative represents a tax increase above the current 2024 tax levy levels. Both ask for the replacement of an expiring millage with a millage rate of the exact same amount. The operating millage is required for us to receive our revenue per pupil foundation allowance, which funds our day-to-day operations, while the sinking fund allows us to continue to make improvements to district facilities, including items like roofs and parking lots.
In general, a good way to think about these proposals is that we are asking to replace two expiring millages with levies that are exactly the same rates. The operating millage is the one the state requires us to pass in order to get all of our state's per-pupil funding. The sinking fund proposal asks voters to decide about replacing the expiring one with a new one (at the same rate) that has expanded uses allowed by relatively recent state legislation. More specifically, this is the information we provided in the microINSIDER:
Operating Millage Proposal
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 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. Voters will decide whether the limitation on the amount of taxes that may be assessed against all property in Grand Ledge Public Schools (except principal residence and other property exempted by law) shall be increased by 18.8899 mills for a period of 10 years - replacing an 18.8899 mill operating millage that expired with the 2024 tax levy. The proposal's estimated revenue is approximately $12,485,000, about 16% of the general fund budget.
Sinking Fund Millage Proposal
Voters will decide whether to increase the sinking fund millage to the rate of 0.7921 mills for ten years - replacing a 0.7921 mill sinking fund millage that expired with the 2024 tax levy. The Sinking Fund is a capital improvement fund that was first approved by the voters in 2002 at a rate of 1.000 mills, and previous voters approved renewals in 2011 and 2021. Headlee reductions have lowered the tax rate over time to the current rate of 0.7921 mills. In the past, it has paid for school building improvements, roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, parking lot work, athletic facility upgrades, and more. If approved next week, the Sinking Fund could also be used to pay for school buses, security improvements, student technology, maintenance vehicles, and all other purposes authorized by law.
For additional information about these millages, please visit our website, or click here.
Aside from these important funding questions, we also currently have three seats on the school board that are up for a vote this year. In our system of government, school board members have the important job of setting policy and hiring a superintendent to carry out those policies within the district. As a part of that role, the Grand Ledge Public Schools Board of Education evaluates me and provides me with feedback through a legally required evaluation process. In fact, we just went through my evaluation at our board meeting this week. Board agendas, minutes, and recordings of meetings are posted publicly; we value transparency, and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to engage with your elected leaders, so those are always available for viewing and can be found here, along with many other pieces of information about the board and the district. I very much appreciate our board’s support of the district and its students, and also the feedback that they provide me through the evaluation and throughout the year. While we seek feedback from you, engage with you, and partner with you in a variety of ways, the school board is the formal way that citizens in a community shape the policies of a school district.
I realize that with mail-in voting and early voting opportunities in our state, some of you have already cast your ballots, but I feel that it is important to communicate about these items leading into election day, because they do have a real impact on the day-to-day operations within our district. As I mentioned in my update last week, GLPS is in a strong place academically, and our programming is second to none in this area. I truly believe it is because we have incredible staff, amazing families, a supportive community, and strong partnerships across those groups of people. I learned a long time ago that as a community goes, so goes its school district, and as a school district goes, so goes its community, and I truly believe that the current strength of GLPS and our community reflects that relationship. I appreciate the support you provide us week in and week out, and I appreciate the opportunity you give us to work with your child every single day.
Have a wonderful weekend, and as always, I am #proudtobeacomet!
Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools
