PD seeks seven-year millage for operations
DRYDEN — Voters in the Dryden Community School district, along with those in the Dryden Township police department coverage area, will be going to the polls Tuesday, May 2 to determine the fate of two separate issues.
The township police department would see an influx of around $692,000 in the first year, if their seven-year millage request is successful.
The ballot language for the PD issue is, “Shall Dryden Township impose an increase of up to 2.7 mills ($2.70 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for 7 years, 2023 through 2029 inclusive, to maintain, operate and equip the Dryden Township Police Department at its current level of services, which 2.7 mill increase will raise an estimated $692,095 in the first year the millage is levied?”
Meanwhile, the Dryden school district is seeking nearly $11 million at 2.7 mills, for badly needed improvements district wide.
The Dryden Township police department is staffed 24/7. Operations of the department rely on voters financial suppoprt.
The district ballot question asks voters, “Shall Dryden Community Schools, Lapeer County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Ten Million Seven Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($10,770,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: remodeling, furnishing, and refurnishing and equipping and re-equipping school buildings, including for security improvements; acquiring and installing instructional technology; and preparing, developing, and improving playgrounds, parking areas, and sites?”
The estimated school millage that would be levied for the proposed bonds in 2023 is 1.75 mills ($1.75 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 1.4 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy, if the millage is passed.
The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is eighteen (18) years.
The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.71 mills ($2.71 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).
Pursuant to state law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.
The school district has plans for repairs at both the elementary and high schools, if the millage request passes, most importantly replacing roofs on both buildings.
Other planned upgrades are new security and safety equipment for both buildings and HVAC upgrades, including air conditioning in the high school.
Over 40,000 square feet of parking lot would be refurbished between the two schools and the well system that currently services the high school with water would be addressed.
The well was first installed nearly 50 years ago, in 1976. Further school millage information is available on the school’s website.
Thursday, April 27th is the deadline for clerks to send an absent voter ballot via First Class mail.
The following day is the deadline for electors who have lost their absentee ballot or not yet received their ballot in the mail to submit a written request to spoil their absent voter ballot and receive a new absent voter ballot.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023, by 4 p.m. is the deadline for emergency absentee voting.
Election Day registrants may obtain and vote an absent voter ballot in person in clerk’s office or vote in person in the proper precinct on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
For more information, contact your Clerk’s office.
