November 5, 2024: Polls are open 7am-8pm for registered voters.

• Monday, September 16, 2024 - 6pm (at the September Board Meeting)

• Monday, October 21, 2024 - 6pm (at the October Board Meeting)

Register to Vote Online

Register to Vote Printable

Property Tax Impact Estimate

The 2024 Sinking Fund Millage will be on the ballot on November 5th, 2024. The proposal seeks a 2.60 mill levy over a period of five years.

It is important to clarify that this 2.60 mill levy proposal is a combination of the existing building and site sinking fund millage, and an increase to that millage amount.

• Existing Sinking Fund Millage approved by voters in 2020 (thru 2029) – 1.8414 mills

• Additional mills requested to allow for transportation and bus purchases - .7586 mills

By voting in favor of the 2024 Sinking Fund Millage, community members can directly contribute to the long-term sustainability and improvement of Sand Creek Community Schools.

Complete information on the voting process, including clerk office and polling locations, registering to vote and absentee ballots can be found here at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/

• Sinking funds can only be used for purposes outlined and approved in the sinking fund millage proposal.

• Sinking fund dollars can NOT be used for operational costs such as salaries, utilities and textbooks.

• Sand Creek Schools has been levying a voter approved sinking fund millage for 25+ years.

• The current Sinking Fund millage of 1.8414 mills has been in place since 2011.

• The current voter approved 1.8414 mills is authorized thru 2029 (5 more years).

• The 2.60 mill levy proposal is a .7586 mill increase to the existing authorized sinking fund mills.

• If approved, the board will only levy the 2.60 mills for 5 more years (starting with the Winter 2024 levy)

• This millage is expected to raise approximately $433,000 annually

PowerPoint Presentation

The purpose of a building and site millage is to provide funding to maintain building and grounds facilities.  It is a “pay as you go” system approved by local voters that allows school districts to pay cash for repairs and improvements as needed, ensuring that necessary work and upgrades can be completed without incurring debt. 

Sand Creek Community Schools has a 5-year plan that includes several areas of infrastructure repair and upgrades needed to maintain and improve our campus and continue to provide a safe and effective learning environment.  Our general fund monies are not typically budgeted for these types of expenditures, as we cannot cover operating costs as well as needed upgrades and maintenance of our infrastructure with these funds.  In addition, with this year’s freeze on state aid per-student funding, we are more challenged than ever (as all districts are) to cover increasing costs as well as needed upgrades of buildings, grounds and bus fleet.

To address this funding gap, Sand Creek Community Schools, like many other districts across Michigan, relies on a sinking fund millage to finance these essential repairs, upgrades and purchases.

The district has levied a building and site millage for many years.  This particular millage proposal is for a renewal and increase of the existing millage that has been in place for the last thirteen years.  However, a sinking fund millage (voter approved) has been in levied in Sand Creek for 25+ years. Projects that have been completed with building and site funds in the past include:

• Roof replacement projects at both the high school and elementary buildings

• Parking lot seal coating and asphalting

• Lighting upgrades in both buildings to more energy efficient units

• Floor tile replaced in both buildings; Gym floor refinished; Tuck pointing brick repair

• High School track replaced

• Doors and windows replaced

• Electrical, plumbing and air conditioning (in certain areas)

Sinking funds and bonds are both approved and generated by taxpayers, but they are very different. A bond is a form of borrowing, and taxpayers must pay back the borrowed funds over a period of years with interest. Sinking funds are levied, but are not borrowed. This means the funds generated do not include borrowing additional debt or incurring interest. Sinking fund revenue is also limited in its uses which are regulated by law.

The Sinking Fund Millage will continue to be used for essential building repairs and capital projects and will ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the district without straining the general fund. Current needs include:

• Safety Upgrade Needs

  • Gorman Road - drop-off and pick-up - safety issues

  • Elementary drop-off and pick-up - safety issues

  • Additional lighting in parking lots and driveways - safety issue

  • To maintain safety of our bus fleet, continue purchasing a new bus (average of one a year) We currently need to replace two of our oldest buses ASAP (both 2003).

    **The purchase of buses with sinking fund dollars would be a new allowable cost with the approval of this proposal.

• Maintenance/Upkeep Needs:

  • Roof replacement / repair projects

  • Parking lot sealcoating and asphalt upkeep (currently just annual sealcoating)

  • Window replacements (been replacing as needed - over the last few years)

  • Jr. High Gym Floor

  • Elementary classroom floors (continue replacing older classroom tiled flooring that includes asbestos removal)

  • Elementary septic system replaced; Drainage at softball field

• Program Improvements

  • Video and sound system for Jr. High gym (concerts, plays and other programs)

  • Add air conditioning to district classrooms to improve air flow and learning conditions

  • Storage room at elementary; Walk-in cooler and freezer units at elementary

A mill represents $1 for every $1,000 of the taxable value of your property. The taxable value of your property is equal to or less than the state equalized value (SEV), and is typically around 50% of the market value of your property.

 Based upon Taxable Value defined as the lesser of:  A)  assessed value (1/2 of the true cash value); or B) the prior year’s Taxable Value, less losses times the rate of inflation plus additions.  For example, a person with a Taxable Value of $100,000 (which would be a market value of at least $200,000 or more) would have an estimated increase in taxes of approximately $76.00 (annually).

NOTE:  If taxpayer qualifies for the State homestead property tax credit, the “net” tax increase would be less than shown above.