HOLLAND (WHTC) — On Tuesday, voters in Ottawa and Allegan counties head to the polls to cast ballots on an array of bond (building) and millage (operating) funding questions.
Here’s a brief roundup of ballot issues in the greater Holland area:
MAX Transit Authority is asking for a 5-year, .4-mil renewal, valued at an estimated of $906,863 in 2017, which comprises 20 percent of the agency’s annual operating budget, according to Penny Shuff, committee chair of the Lakeshore Friends of Transit. She said voting yes won’t increase a voter’s tax bill. (Hear her complete interview with WHTC.)
In addition to providing transportation for elderly and disabled, about half of the riders use MAX to get to and from work, Shuff said. MAX operates eight fixed routes, six days a week, Monday through Saturday, in additon to on-demand response service, according to MAX’s website. All buses have lifts and bike racks; seniors medicare and ADA cardholders ride free, according to state records.
Laketown Township voters will see a 16-year, .7341-mil request valued at an estimated $8,680,000 “for the purpose of paying the cost to acquire, construct, furnish, and equip capital improvements consisting generally of a fiber optic infrastructure to provide internet service in the township, including fiber optic backbone, service lines, necessary electronics, rights-of-way, appurtenances and attachments,” according to the ballot text.
The remaining ballot issues are all school questions. The operating renewal proposals:
Zeeland Public Schools is asking for a one-year, 18-mil renewal, valued at an estimated $9,428,380. (In this case, an 18-mil renweal equals $18.00 per each $1,000 of taxable valuation)
West Ottawa Public Schools: A one-year, 18-mil renewal valued at an estimated $11,422,000.
Hudsonville Public Schools: A one-year, 18-mil renewal, valued at $4.1 million in 2016.
Fruitport Community Schools: A 4-year (2017-20), 18.5-mil renewal valued at $2,966,559 in 2017.
Grand Haven Area Public Schools: A one-year, 18-mil renewal, expected to bring in an estimated $16,714,949.
Grandville Public Schools: A 10-year (2107-26) 1.4-mil renewal, expected to bring in $2,113,795 in 2017.
School districts asking to sell bonds for capital improvements (building and equipment):
- Hamilton Community Schools: A 30-year, $22,670,000 bond for “erecting, furnishing and equipping an addition to, installing security measures for, remodeling, equipping and re-equipping, and furnishing and refurnishing school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; erecting transportation and supporting athletic buildings; purchasing school buses; and preparing, developing and improving playgrounds, play fields, athletic fields and facilities, parking areas and sites,” according to the ballot text.
- Sparta Area Schools is asking for a 30-year, $58,620,000 bond for “erecting, furnishing and equipping a new middle school; erecting, furnish and equipping secure entry additions to school buildings; remodeling, equipping, and re-equipping and furnishing and refurnishing school buildings; acquiring, installing, equipping, and re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping playgrounds, athletic fields and facilities and sites,” according to the ballot text.
- Kenowa Hills Public Schools: A 29-year, $55,240,000 bond proposal for “erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, equipping, and re-equipping and furnishing and refurnishing school buildings; acquiring, installing, equipping, and re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; purchasing and equipping school buses; and acquiring, preparing, developing, improving and equipping playgrounds, athletic fields and facilities and sites,” according to the ballot text.
- Jenison Public Schools: A 25-year bond proposal valued at $25,335,000 for “remodeling, equipping and re-equipping and furnishing and refurnishing school buildings, including to provide secure entries at the junior high and high school buildings; purchasing and equipping school buses; acquiring, installing, equipping or re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; erecting, furnishing and equipping a new early childhood center/elementary school building; erecting an athletic storage building; and acquiring, preparing, developing, improving and equipping playgrounds and sites,” according to the ballot text.
- Hopkins Public Schools: A 5-year, 1.6-mil request to create a sinking fund, valued at an estimated $401,231 in 2016, according to the ballot text.
- Gobles Public Schools: A 10-year, 2-mil bond request to “to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings,” according to the ballot text, valued at an estimated $322,164 in 2016.
