School Funding



Click here to register to vote

Click here to apply for an absentee ballot

Leland Public School SINKING FUND MILLAGE (Repairs and Improvements to the AGING parts of our school) Purpose: Funds for repairs and improvements to existing facilities—without spending general funds earmarked for instructional needs. A sinking fund would allow the district to generate funds for the specific purpose of building repairs and upgrades and preserves general fund dollars for instructional expenses such as educational programming, materials, teachers and staff salaries and benefits, small class sizes, athletics, arts, drama, and other non-facility related How much will it cost YOU? Election Day: Tuesday, May 3, 2022 With the 2022-2026 Sinking Fund, LPS would resume the schedule of repairs and improvements to the middle/high school including: Voters first passed a Sinking Fund in 2007, and renewed it in 2009, 2012, and 2015. Since the passage of the construction bond for the new elementary school and new gym in 2018, LPS has not levied a Sinking Fund millage. For a list of historical projects completed with sinking fund revenues, visit lelandschool.com. Don’t know your taxable value? Look it up on leelanau.gov/ propertysearch 45-Year-Old Area (mostly high school) - Upgrade HS media center to include technology hubs & collaborative work spaces - Upgrade HS classrooms - Replace faulty and inefficient lighting - Replace malfunctioning HVAC units - Repair roof 20-Year-Old Area (mostly middle school) - Replace aging carpet - Improve utility efficiency of windows - Upgrade Performing Arts Center lighting and sound infrastructure -Upgrade science lab classrooms 0.5 mils or $50 per year on every $100,000 in taxable value (Less than 14¢ per day) On May 3, voters will also be asked whether to approve the same operating millage that has been approved annually for 20+ years on non-homestead property—required for the school district to receive state aid. For questions, please contact Stephanie Long, slong@lelandschool.com or 231-256-9857.

 

Operational Millage and Sinking Fund Millages

Frequently Asked Questions


What is a sinking fund millage and what can sinking fund monies be used for?

         A sinking fund millage allows a school to raise monies to be used for upkeep, repairs and upgrades of the existing buildings and infrastructure.  Sinking fund monies pay for the annual physical capital repairs and improvements to school facilities - such as replacing classroom door locks with safety locks that staff and students could activate without a key, repairing building infrastructure, and keeping the systems of the school working properly. 

 

Why is LPS seeking voter approval for a sinking fund millage at the May 2022 election?

         LPS typically seeks voter approval for a sinking fund millage every 3-5 years or so and then spends those funds over the ensuing years.  In the recent past, LPS voters have approved sinking fund millages in 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2015.  LPS did not seek approval for a sinking fund in 2018 as the school was focused on the construction of the new elementary school and gym.  Now it is 2022 and the school is asking voters to consider whether to approve another sinking fund millage.

 

Why is the school asking voters to consider a sinking fund millage for the building when voters not too long ago passed a bond to build a new school?

         The construction bond passed by voters in 2018 provided funds to build a new elementary school and new gym to replace the old elementary school and gym that were built in the 1930’s and 1950’s. The bond funds were not used for the upkeep or repairs of the rest of the buildings. Bond monies cannot be spent on repairs to buildings, infrastructure, or systems. In contrast, sinking fund monies can be spent for those purposes.

 

What projects are proposed to be funded by the sinking fund in the next five years and how was it determined which projects would be performed?

         The school board met in August and, with input from the teaching staff, maintenance team, and administration, identified the highest priority facility improvements, upgrades, and repairs that would be addressed within the next five years. Preliminary bids and contractor input were sought to estimate anticipated costs and a schedule was created to prioritize the projects. The identified projects include upgrades to the school’s science labs and the lighting and sound infrastructure systems in the Performing Arts Center, replacing rooftop heating units that will soon come to the end of their useful life, upgrading outdated and inefficient lighting throughout the building, and replacing old windows and doors.