By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR — Voters of the Taylor School District will decide on a $130 million bond proposal for school improvements during the upcoming Nov. 2 general election.
The new millage rate would be a 2.71-mill increase for a 3.67-mill tax. According to the ballot language, the estimated millage that will be levied to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is 3.64 mills which is equal to $3.64 per $1,000 of taxable value; and the estimated simple average annual millage that will be required to retire each series of bonds is 3.64 mills annually.
A community presentation video said Taylor is the city with the lowest bond rating among all 33 school districts in Wayne County.
TMP Architecture Chief Marketing Officer Gail Allevato broke down the millage increase from the current 0.96 mills school district residents are currently paying in property taxes.
“With the average home market value in the district at $96,300 we looked at a home value of $100,000,” Allevato said in the video. “The increase for a $100,000 home is $135.50 per year or $11.29 a month or actually less than 40 cents a day.”
According to the ballot language, projects that will be paid for by the money generated from the bond are: erecting a new high school building and career center building which will include athletic fields and parking lots; erecting additions to and remodeling of the current high school for conversion to a middle school; remodeling, equipping, re-equipping, furnishing, refurnishing school buildings, athletic and play fields and other facilities to create a modern learning environment for students, for safety and security and other purposes; acquiring and installing instructional technology infrastructure and equipment in school buildings and other facilities; and preparing, developing and improving sites at school buildings, athletic and play fields and other facilities.
Supt. Griff Mills said the average age of all the buildings in district is approximately 60 years old. The district enrollment is 5,580 students which is projected to decrease to 4,883 by 2025-26 school year.
Currently, the district has 12 school buildings, one administration building and one career center. Each were visited and assessed on the interior and exterior, rating each with a number system in addition to meeting with all principals in the district to talk about program deficiencies and identify several needs.
Some of those needs include athletic field improvements, safety upgrades, flooring and window replacement, parking lot upgrades, media center updates and STEM lab upgrade.
Other planned upgrades are mechanical and electrical improvements in facilities, new furniture at all buildings in the district to allow flexible and collaborative learning spaces, and upgrading technology to enhance educational and security needs in all buildings.
A bond steering committee made up of 22 community members, board of education trustees, parents and staff is developing a bond program recommendation at the end of its analysis process for board’s consideration.
For more information on the bond go to www.taylorschools.net.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)