Tag Archives: Millage Proposal

Wyoming Public Schools ask residents to approve $29.75 million bond, assure voters of tax decrease

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Wyoming Public Schools is asking residents to approve a new bond totaling $29.75 million that will provide support for day-to-day district operations and complete projects identified in their long-range facilities plan (Video provided by Wyoming Public Schools)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) is asking residents to approve a new bond totaling $29.75 million that will provide support for day-to-day district operations and complete projects identified in their long-range facilities plan.

In communications sent to all WPS families, Superintendent Craig Hoekstra encourages community members to be aware of three proposals on the Nov. 4, 2025 election ballot and what each proposal will fund.

(Courtesy, Wyoming Public Schools)

“This bond, if approved, will allow us to complete our Facility Master Plan that we built many years ago,” said Hoekstra in a video introducing the bond proposal.

“We put a great plan together to completely update our school district. Our buildings were built between the 1940s and the 1960s, so completing our Master Facilities Plan will allow us to execute our vision that best supports our kids today, but also well into the future.”

Bond proposal facts

Supplied by Wyoming Public Schools

  • The Kent ISD Regional Enhancement Millage would be restored and renewed to a total of 0.9 mills for educational and operational programming.
  • The WPS Sinking Fund replaces our expiring Sinking Fund and would result in a no net tax rate increase and focuses on repairs, safety, technology replacements, and buses.
  • The WPS Bond Proposal totals $29.75 million to complete projects identified in our Master Facilities Plan, including new learning spaces for students, air conditioning and secure entrances in remaining buildings, elementary media center updates, and a gym addition at Gladiola. If the Bond Proposal is approved, the overall net debt millage rate is expected to decrease by 0.15 mills.
WPS Bond Proposal (Courtesy, Wyoming Public Schools)
WPS Sinking Fund Proposal (Courtesy, Wyoming Public Schools)

A tax decrease

Hoekstra went on to say that WPS asked for help from the community three different times – in 2017, 2022 and now 2025 – to avoid the inevitable tax increase of a one-time large bond request.

“We were being very mindful and fiscally responsible with our community with no increase (2017), no increase (2022), and this one is a tax decrease (2025),” said Hoekstra.

This third and final bond request on Nov. 4 will allow WPS to continue work begun with the previous two proposals without any gaps in advancement and completion of the Master Facilities Plan.

“These proposals aren’t just about buildings, they are about creating spaces where students feel safe, supported and ready to succeed,” a WPS student said in the bond proposal video.

“I’m excited because we get to go out to our community, be good stewards of their resources, and just supporting our kids at a very high level moving forward,” said Hoekstra. “What excites me the most is we’re doing this for our kids.”

Learn more

More information on the bond proposals can be found at wyomingps.org.

Kent District Library to ask voters for one-year millage on Aug. 6 ballot to bridge 2025 funding gap

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By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


In November 2023, Kent County voters approved a 15-year renewal millage for the award-winning Kent District Library system. However, the approved ballot language does not give KDL the authority to assess the new millage until December 2025, resulting in a one-year funding gap.

KDL will ask voters to consider a one-year nonrenewable millage at a rate of 1.1 mills on the Aug. 6 ballot that, if approved, will support the system’s 2025 operations.

Gap millage details

The gap millage is at the same rate property owners pay now, and there is no overlap with any other KDL millage.

If approved, the millage will generate $27.6 million, which will cover the expense of physical and digital collections, employees, programs and events, tech tutoring and other library services, rent and other expenses in 2025.

KDL Outreach and Programming Specialist Susan Erhardt reads to children (Courtesy, KDL)

The average homeowner in the KDL service area would pay $145.75 annually for access to its broad array of services – or about $2.80 per week, less than the cost of most cups of coffee, which is the same as what they are paying now.

“More than 90% of KDL’s operating costs are paid by millage dollars,” KDL Executive Director Lance Werner said. “An issue with the 2023 millage dates occurred inadvertently and has resulted in our need to go back to voters for a one-year millage to fill this funding gap. There’s no overlap and no double-dipping.

“If the gap ballot question does not pass voter approval in this election cycle, KDL will be forced to make substantive cuts to our team, hours, branches, services and programs in 2025.”

If passed, the millage will be used for KDL operating costs (Courtesy, Sophia Rolfe)

The millage will be levied Dec. 1, 2024 to fund 2025 library operations until the 15-year renewal millage can be accessed in December 2025.

This is a one-time request to bridge the funding gap in 2025. KDL will not ask for a renewal of this millage.

How KDL serves the community

KDL serves more than 440,000 residents in 27 municipalities through 20 branches, an Express Library, a bookmobile, its main service center, 5,000-plus annual in-person programs and a host of patron-focused services, from in-branch printer/Wi-Fi access and loanable mobile hot spots to early literacy initiatives and an extensive assortment of talking books and Braille resources.

KDL Grandville Branch Library Jocelyn talks with a patron about book selections (Courtesy, KDL)

Early literacy and education partnerships are a cornerstone of KDL service for the community. KDL has a long-standing tradition inspiring students to continue their learning through the summer. In addition to helping students and their families directly, KDL provides a wide array of resources to teachers, which can be found online here.

KDL’s collection is comprised of more than 700,000 physical items and 15.6 million digital items. These include books, e-books, apps, magazines, movies, television programs, audio books, video courses, video games, music, online databases, research materials and at-home learning materials, as well as access to statewide materials and collections.

KDL works to provide a variety of resources and materials for the community (Courtesy, KDL)

In 2023, total circulation rose 8% to more than 7.6 million while public computer usage grew 18% and Wi-Fi usage grew 6%. KDL is in the top 50 libraries worldwide for OverDrive digital circulation.

Known for family-friendly programs, KDL offers more than 6,400 programs and outreach events each year, from popular baby/toddler/preschool storytimes, learning labs and craft classes to book clubs, concerts and special activities.

The system employs more than 340 people and receives 5,900-plus hours annually from more than 650 volunteers.

Resource links

“KDL remains committed to fostering a lifelong love of reading, learning and critical thinking,” Werner said. “Funding from this millage is critical in order for us to continue to operate and provide resources for all in our community throughout 2025.”

More information on the one-year millage proposal and a millage calculator can be found here.

More information on KDL and the services and resources they offer can be found here.

Kelloggsville Public Schools seeks non-residential property millage extension on May 4 ballot

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A view of the inside of Kelloggsville High School. (Supplied/KPS)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

With a recent history of voter support for local school millage funding, the Kelloggsville Public Schools district will be seeking an extension of its existing non-residential (non-homestead) property millage and well as an additional temporary 2-year 0.5 mill increase on the May 4 ballot.

The district received voter support on the millage two years ago, and the current and the proposed extension would allow that millage to “be renewed by 18.0181 mills ($18.0181 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2022 and 2023, and also be increased by 0.5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2022 and 2023,” according to the official Kent County elections ballot proposal information.

According to information supplied by the district, the proposal “is a renewal to be levied against non-homestead property. Resident properties are exempt from being taxed by this proposal (no cost to the homeowner). This is a renewal on business properties and not homes. The renewal will notcost the homeowner any additional taxes.”

“This millage is all student programming and activities. Many of the programs and activities we currently have in place are tied to it,” Eric Alcorn, Director of Human Resources for Kelloggsville Public Schools, said to WKTV. “Again this is a renewal of a millage that we approved two years ago. The support that we receive from our community is and has been tremendous. The continued support would be greatly appreciated.”

If approved, the 0.5 mill increase will also be for a period of 2 years, 2022 and 2023, and will “provide funds for operating purposes,” according to the official ballot statement, “the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2022 is approximately $3,463,580 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2021 levy and the addition of millage which will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the ‘Headlee’ amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963.”

For more information about Kelloggsville Public Schools millage extension proposal contact the administration office at 616-538-7460. 

How and when to vote

The Michigan Secretary of State recommends that to register to vote by mail for the May 4 ballot voters should do so as soon as possible. Individuals may also register to vote online at Michigan.gov/vote, or in-person at the City of Kentwood and City of Wyoming city clerk’s office through May 4, with the required documentation.

According to state supplied material, due to COVID-19, the Secretary of State will continue mailing absentee voter ballot applications to all registered voters. Registered voters must complete and submit the application to receive their absentee voter ballot. To vote by mail, fill out the application and sign it, and then mail or email it to the city clerk. (When filling out the application, if you check the box to be added to the permanent absentee voter list, you will get an application mailed to you before every election.)

If you registered to vote after absentee voter ballot applications were mailed, applications may be obtained online at Michigan.gov/vote. Absentee voter ballots are available by through May 4, 2021.

Wyoming Bond Proposal passes

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WKTV takes seriously its role as a communications provider. We want our community to be well informed and more involved in local matters.

 

Bond Proposal – Yes

 

Bond

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.