MONROE - Voters in the Monroe and Belleville school districts will have the power Nov. 8 to grant or deny funding their respective school boards are requesting.
Here's a quick overview:
Monroe
The Monroe school district is putting two referendum questions on the ballot, one addressing operational costs and the other addressing funding for maintenance and safety projects. Both are non-recurring.
The first question asks voters to allow the school district to exceed its revenue limit by $1.5 million per year for three years for the purpose of "maintaining educational services and programming." If approved, the district would be able to levy $1.5 million more each year than it would otherwise in school-related property taxes through the 2018-19 school year.
Business Administrator Ron Olson previously estimated the district would need $1.8 million per year to maintain current school programming and services due to rising costs and inadequate state funding, but school board members landed on $1.5 million to increase chances of the referendum passing.
The second question asks for the ability to exceed the revenue limit by $460,000 per year for three years for "purposes consisting of safety, security, communications and maintenance expenses." Projects the question seeks to pay for include installing security cameras, replacing the district's outdated phone system and repairing roofs.
If both questions pass in the election, the district will be able to levy a total of $1.96 million above its limit for three years. Without the referendum, the district will levy about $10.63 million in taxes this year.
The district estimates that if both questions pass, it will add $180 to the tax bill of the owner of a home valued at $100,000.
Belleville
The Belleville school district is asking voters for permission to issue $20.75 million in bonds to pay for projects including building consolidation and renovations.
If passed, the referendum will increase property taxes by an estimated $1 per $1,000 of property value, according to the district website. That would add almost $100 to the tax bill of the owner of a $100,000 house. Without the referendum, the district will levy about $4.38 million in taxes this year.
The school board is proposing to use the funds to close and sell the elementary school, renovate the intermediate school to convert it to a school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, and make minor renovations at the high school. Some projects include upgrading classrooms, adding security cameras and addressing heating, roofing and other maintenance needs.
Belleville hasn't had a referendum in the last 20 years, according to the district's website.
Here's a quick overview:
Monroe
The Monroe school district is putting two referendum questions on the ballot, one addressing operational costs and the other addressing funding for maintenance and safety projects. Both are non-recurring.
The first question asks voters to allow the school district to exceed its revenue limit by $1.5 million per year for three years for the purpose of "maintaining educational services and programming." If approved, the district would be able to levy $1.5 million more each year than it would otherwise in school-related property taxes through the 2018-19 school year.
Business Administrator Ron Olson previously estimated the district would need $1.8 million per year to maintain current school programming and services due to rising costs and inadequate state funding, but school board members landed on $1.5 million to increase chances of the referendum passing.
The second question asks for the ability to exceed the revenue limit by $460,000 per year for three years for "purposes consisting of safety, security, communications and maintenance expenses." Projects the question seeks to pay for include installing security cameras, replacing the district's outdated phone system and repairing roofs.
If both questions pass in the election, the district will be able to levy a total of $1.96 million above its limit for three years. Without the referendum, the district will levy about $10.63 million in taxes this year.
The district estimates that if both questions pass, it will add $180 to the tax bill of the owner of a home valued at $100,000.
Belleville
The Belleville school district is asking voters for permission to issue $20.75 million in bonds to pay for projects including building consolidation and renovations.
If passed, the referendum will increase property taxes by an estimated $1 per $1,000 of property value, according to the district website. That would add almost $100 to the tax bill of the owner of a $100,000 house. Without the referendum, the district will levy about $4.38 million in taxes this year.
The school board is proposing to use the funds to close and sell the elementary school, renovate the intermediate school to convert it to a school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, and make minor renovations at the high school. Some projects include upgrading classrooms, adding security cameras and addressing heating, roofing and other maintenance needs.
Belleville hasn't had a referendum in the last 20 years, according to the district's website.