Ferndale Public Schools Bond Proposal

METRO DETROIT SCHOOLS LOOK TO VOTERS FOR HELP

Millages would go toward upgrades

By Lori Higgins Free Press Education Writer

   Ferndale Police Chief Tim Collins has a vested interest in the $23-million bond proposal for Ferndale Public Schools on Tuesday’s ballot.

   He’s a community leader, but he also has children in the district. And he chairs a committee pushing to pass the bond proposal — a role he says he took on because he sees need in the district.

   “The main thing people need to realize is that the building stock of our school district for the most part is fairly old,” Collins said. “We have schools that are over 80 years old.”

   The proposal is one of a handful of school-related millage requests to be decided Tuesday. Voters in the Center Line, Riverview, River Rouge and Wayne-Westland districts also will be voting on school measures.

   In Ferndale, the money would go into four majorareas:upgradingbuildings,improvingsecurity, technology updates and energy savings. A large chunk of the money — $14.4 million — would be spent on the building that houses Fern-dale Middle and Ferndale High schools, including $5.4 million in mechanical upgrades and $5.2 million to remove asbestos and replace ceilings and lights.

   Home owners wouldn’t see a tax increase to support the bond proposal; instead, the district’s current 7-mill bond would be extended until 2041. It is currently set to expire in 2023.

   “We’renotaskingformoremoneyoutofyour pocket,” Collins said. “We’re asking you to pay for a longer period of time.”

   Also on the ballot in metro Detroit:

   ! Officials in the River Rouge School District are hoping they’ll win over voters in their latest bid to replace18 mills set to expire in December. Twice in the last two years, they’ve asked voters to OK replacing the mills — which would generate $3 million in 2013 — and twice voters have said no.

   The district has been in a deficit for four years. Interim Superintendent James Doig said if voters reject the proposal again, the financial crisis could get worse.

   “We probably would have to give up all the extracurricular things,” Doig said. “So it’s really going to be devastating. We’re already in bad shape.”

   The proposal doesn’t affect homeowners whose primary residence is in the district because it is a non-homestead replacement millage. Non-homestead refers to commercial property, industrial property, rental property, certain non-primary residential homes and some vacant land.

   The length of the proposed millage is 10 years.

   ! Center Line Public Schools has two proposals: one for $40 million that would pay for a new elementary school, new roofs on existing schools, technology upgrades and improved security, and one for $4 million that would pay for a new athletic complex, pool upgrades and locker room renovations.

   Combined, the proposals would add about 4.5 mills for 30 years. That means the owner of a home with a taxable value of $35,000 — the average in the district — would pay about an additional $160 in the first year.

   Voters rejected a similar proposal in July.

   ! Riverview Community School District is asking voters to approve a $43-million bond proposal that would pay for upgrades and repairs throughout the district — including replacing a two-story classroom wing at Riverview Community High, new roofs at all buildings, technology upgrades and new security cameras for all entrances, halls and common areas.

   The proposal would add 7.32 mills for 30 years, meaning the owner of a home with a taxable value of $60,000 would pay an additional $439 in the first year.

   ! Wayne-Westland Community Schools is asking voters to renew nearly 1 mill for 10 years for a sinking fund, which pays for things such as major building repairs. It generates $1.9 million annually.

   For the home with a taxable value of $40,000 — considered average in the district — it would cost the homeowner $39.69 annually.

   ! CONTACT LORI HIGGINS: 313-222-6651OR LHIGGINS

   @ FREEPRESS.COM  

LINDA PARTON

   Ferndale High School students rehearse for their production of “Grease” earlier this month. Fern-dale Public Schools is hoping voters pass a bond proposal to upgrade the district’s aging buildings.