Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

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  • Douglas Tesner

    Northport Public School
May 5, 2009

Millage could make or break school

Renewal on today's ballot in Leelanau

BY SHERI McWHIRTER

NORTHPORT -- It's a sink-or-swim day for Northport Public School.

A five-year operating millage renewal for 15.6583 mills -- only 13.388 mills would be collected -- is on today's ballot in Leelanau County's Suttons Bay and Leelanau townships. Without voter approval, officials warn the school could close.

"If we don't get the millage, we don't have any other options to generate revenue," said Superintendent Jeff Tropf.

Should voters deny the tax request, district officials can't make another pitch until November. By then, the district could be out of money, Tropf said.

Northport's 146 students between kindergarten and 12th grade would then become school of choice students and the state Legislature could fold the district into another, he said.

But Tropf is confident voters will approve the millage renewal request.

"In the past, they have been very, very supportive of millages and always support this district," he said.

The millage request is slightly lower than previously approved by voters, Tropf said.

Dozens of candidates seek election to various school boards across the five-county region, plus there are at least 10 millage requests for operating funds or special projects.

An $850,000 bond proposal for Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools failed by 33 votes in November's general election and will be revisited today, though at a lower rate.

"We put the pencil to it and reduced it down," said Superintendent Tom Stobie. "We feel very confident we will get enough positive voters out to overcome."

The Benzie County district wants voters to approve a $530,000 bond proposal, to be repaid at an average 0.21-mill rate over the life of the seven-year bond. Taxpayers would pay 0.06 mills the first year.

Stobie said the money would be spent on technology improvements and two buses. The district considered a partnership with Benzie Bus, but "there are times when you need the size of a yellow bus," Stobie said.

In Antrim County, voters in the Central Lake Public Schools district will decide whether to renew two millages: an 18-mill, non-homestead operating millage and a three-year, 0.45-mill sinking fund request for various work.

The district's capital projects list includes new bleachers, bathroom partitions, ceiling tiles, doors and frames, among other things, said Superintendent Steve Paliewicz.

Paliewicz is confident voters will approve the two millage renewal requests, he said.

Polls across the region open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

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