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– Please Vote Tuesday, November 8 –
Important News for Members in the Walkerville Public Schools Community
Sept. 26 Announcement
Two years ago WPS approved a “Sinking Fund” resolution which benefited our school in many ways.
Improvements included: asphalt paving of existing gravel parking lots, renovation of the small gym, relocation of the fitness/weight room to the inside of the school building, enhancements to the old elementary school, and replacement of the small gym roof, among other significant improvements.
OUR WORK IS NOT FINISHED
During the process of performing these extensive improvements, it became evident our HVAC system (heating & cooling) was in much worse shape than expected. What was expected to be a simple problem – replacing the control system for our boilers which we covered on our Sinking Fund proposal – turned out to be several core problems that became too expensive for the limited Sinking Fund monies that were approved by voters in 2020.
To address the multiple problems which were discovered, the WPS Board of Education agreed to place the issue before voters on the November 8th general election.
WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT
Below is a portion of the wording voters will see on the ballot.
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2023 is .7 mill ($0.70 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty (20) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1 .69 mills
($ 1 .69 on each $ I,000 of taxable valuation).
A “ZERO MILL INCREASE” EXPECTED
As seen by the words in bold above, this bond request is an expected No Millage Increase / 20-Year Bond because, if approved by voters, it would take effect after the current school bond expires with an expected zero mill increase.
If the bond request is approved, property taxpayers in the Walkerville Public Schools would see a continuation of the current bond rate. Hence, the ballot wording “-0- mill net increase.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this information regarding the WPS Bond Resolution to be voted on at the general election on November 8th
October 25 Board Letter
Dear Walkerville Friends & Neighbors:
As elected trustees of our school district, we want to remind you that WPS has an expected zero millage increase 20-year bond proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Simply stated, we are asking you to consider a new 20-year bond request to continue as the current bond expires, at a rate which was determined to be as close as possible to our existing millage rate.
The new bond, if approved, would not go into effect until after the current 20-year bond expires.
This is what the phrase “expected zero increase millage” means.
We are requesting this millage because the HVAC system in our school has been failing to the degree that large-scale system needs must be addressed as soon as possible.
We also have other significant facility needs that if not addressed soon, will begin to negatively impact our instructional program as well.
That is why we are asking for our community’s direction on this possible solution.
Please give Walkerville Public Schools’ bond proposal your thoughtful consideration as you go to the polls on Nov. 8.
Thank you!
George Wolgamott – President
Zeke Walker – Vice President
Michelle Tanner – Secretary
John Kirwin – Treasurer
Holly Flanery – Trustee
Victoria Walker – Trustee
Richard Hornsby – Trustee