Voters in the St. Clair Shores Lake Shore and Warren Consolidated school districts will see bond proposals on their ballots on May 3.
Both districts say funds are needed to renovate school buildings and upgrade technology.
Lake Shore voters will be asked to approve a $66.7 million bond proposal with funds earmarked for improving school safety, additions and improvements to school buildings, technology upgrades and improving and the addition of outdoor learning and recreation spaces.
According to a statement released by Superintendent Joseph DiPonio earlier this year, specific improvements include the construction of an Early Years Center on Harper Avenue where the District Administration Building is currently located, a new softball field at the Shore High School and the addition of energy efficient lighting to several school buildings.
The district says that if this bond proposal is approved, it will not result in a tax increase for residents. Voters approved a $34.5 bond proposal in 2016 by a margin of 55.7% to 44.3%. According to information on the Macomb County Clerk’s Elections website, the estimated mileage that will be taken for proposed bonds in 2022 is 0.40 mils, which translates to $0.40 on every 1,000 $ of assessed value.
“If Lake Shore voters approve the proposal, Lake Shore Schools would remain one of the lowest debt tax rates in Macomb County,” DiPonio said in a video posted April 1. St. Clair Shores.
“This bond proposal will not increase the current tax rate; the current tax rate that people pay will remain in place for years to come.
In the Warren Consolidated School District, voters will be asked to approve a $150 million bond proposal.
Some of the improvements planned if the bond proposal is accepted include upgrades to HVAC systems in several school buildings, updating and expanding the school system’s wireless network, and upgrades to sports fields, swimming pools and gymnasiums.
In a statement released last month, Superintendent Robert Livernois said approval of the bond proposal will not increase taxes from the 2021 mileage rate of 4.78 mils. This translates to $4.78 for every $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. For a home with a state-equalized value of $40,000, that works out to $191.20 per year.
“As part of the district’s ongoing facilities management program, a comprehensive review of all facilities in the district was completed during the summer of 2021,” Livernois said in the statement. “This review has identified areas of the district that need facility updates and improvements to keep our schools in good shape.”
Warren Consolidated voters last approved a bond issue in 2016, when a $134.5 million program was approved by a margin of 55.7% to 44.3%.
