Vote Yes on the Non-Homestead Millage - Exhibit A and Exhibit B

If you haven’t yet heard, there is a very important special election this coming Tuesday, May 7.  On the ballot are two millage proposals.  They represent $4.1 million in revenues for our district.  These are “reauthorizations” of property taxes that businesses have been paying since 1994.  They are not new and are not an increase.  If we do not vote yes, the funding will be gone - 13% of our budget.  If cut, we could see the elimination of 64 teachers or 28% of our staff; closure of 1 of our elementary schools; an increase of 7 or more children per class.

I have written that it’s time to let our legislators know that we must restore funding to our schools.  Here’s a chance to take action at the local level.  Our district must retain what little funding we have.  Please vote Yes on Tuesday, May 7! 

On Tuesday morning we’ll be gathering in front of Bates Elementary.  If you’d like to help, please join us, between 7:45 – 8:15.  Make your own sign or come and carry one of our extras.  Email Friendsodextercommunityschools.org (no “f” in of) for more info.  If you see us, please give a honk to show us you’ll be voting in favor of this renewal.

Re. the ballot.  I find the language confusing.  These are “reauthorizations” of taxes that have been on the books since 1994 and 1999 but my understanding is that since both will technically expire, they are considered new taxes so the language can’t say “renewal”.  Just to be clear, this is a reauthorization of existing taxes.  You will see two proposals on the ballot.  The first is the Non-Homestead Millage Reauthorization Proposal and the second is the Non-Homestead Millage “Cushion” Proposal.  The first was originally authorized in 1994 and the second in 1999. Exhibit A reads “Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable non-homestead property in the Dexter Commuity Schools…be increased by 18.00 mills for twenty years…  If approved, this millage would raise an estimated $4,130,446 for the District in 2014.”  Exhibit B includes similar language:  “Shall the Dexter Community Schools…be authorized to levy 3.00 mills by increasing the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable non-homestead property in the school district, for twenty years…”  Again, this is a renewal and the introductory language does state that this is a reauthorization.  As a further note, the state statute limits taxes levied on non-homestead properties to 18 mills so, combined, the two taxes will never exceed 18 mills.  The exact numbers are shown on the district’s website at www.dexterschools.org  on the home page.   Click on the Special Election Information and you can see how the levy amounts have fluctuated between the two components of the millage but they always add up to 18.  You can also read the ballot language and some FAQ’s there.

If you need to know where to vote, please check out a recent article in the Patch or go to Michigan Secretary of State website. 

Chris Gordon wrote a great article here.  He goes into more detail than I have so I hope you will read it.  Mr. Desmarais also posted on The Patch earlier this week.

Again, these are straight renewals of taxes that have been in place for close to 20 years.  Please vote and vote YES on May 7.  And please, help spread the word.  Our children are depending on you!