Brought to you by Election Magic November 5, 2013 Election - 11/5/2013

Proposal Text

Grand Rapids Charter Amendment -- .98 Mills for 7 Years for Parks, Pools, & Playgrounds

It is proposed that Section 18 (e) of the City Charter be amended to authorize a new millage of up to .98 mills for 2014 through 2020, to be used for City-owned parks, pools, and playgrounds, which will raise an estimated $4,000,000 in the levy's first year. Tax increment revenues from this millage would also be disbursed to: Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Downtown Development Authority, Kent County Land Bank Authority, Smartzone Local Development Finance Authority, Monroe North TIFA, Madison Square CIDA, North Quarter CIDA, and Uptown CIDA.

City of Lowell Proposal I -- Provide When Councilmen Terms of Office Begin

The purpose of this Charter amendment is to prescribe that the terms of office of Councilmen shall begin at the beginning of the first regular meeting of the City Council in January following the election at which they were elected, provided the term for Councilmen elected in this election, in November 2015, and for a four-year term in November 2017, shall commence at 8:00 p.m. on the Monday next following the election at which they were elected.

City of Lowell Proposal II -- Provide When an Appointee's Term of Office Ends

The purpose of this Charter amendment is to provide that a person appointed to fill a vacancy in any elective City office shall hold office until the first regular meeting of the City Council in January following the next City general election after the vacancy occurred.

City of Lowell Proposal III -- Provide City Real Estate Purchase Without Elector Approval

Currently Section 13.3(a) of the City Charter requires that City contracts for purchase, sale or lease of real estate with a term exceeding ten years must first receive voter approval at a regular or special election. The amendment would delete the requirement for voter approval of these real estate contracts with terms up to and including ninety-nine years.

Forest Hills Public Schools -- Bonding Proposal - $45,000,000

Shall Forest Hills Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Forty-Five Million Dollars ($45,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: acquiring, installing and equipping or re-equipping school buildings for educational technology; erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; purchasing school buses; erecting, furnishing and equipping school facilities; developing, improving and equipping playgrounds, athletic fields and athletic facilities; and acquiring, preparing, developing and improving sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2014 is .38 mill ($0.38 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years all series of bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-two (22) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is .79 mill ($0.79 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.)

Grandville Public Schools -- Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Grandville Public Schools, Kent and Ottawa Counties, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2014 to 2023, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2014 is approximately $9,226,955 (this is a renewal of millage which expired with the 2013 tax levy?

Lowell Area Schools -- Building and Site Sinking Fund Millage

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property within the school district of Lowell Area Schools, Kent and Ionia Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of eduction be authorized to levy a new additional millage of not to exceed 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable valuation) to create a sinking fund to be used for the contruction or repair of school buildings, purchase of real estate for sites, and other purposes authoried by law, for a period of seven (7) years, 2014 through 2020, inclusive (estimated to provide revenues of approximately $740,920 in 2014)?

Wyoming Public Schools Proposal I -- $37,000,000 Bonding Proposal

Shall Wyoming Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirty-Seven Million Dollars ($37,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to and partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping school facilities; acquiring, installing and equipping technology for the high school; constructing, equipping, developing and improving playgrounds, athletic facilities and playfields; and developing and improving sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2014 is 2.36 mills ($2.36 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-five (25) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.59 mills ($2.59 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.)

Wyoming Public Schools Proposal II -- $12,220,000 Bonding Proposal

Shall Wyoming Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twelve Million Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($12,220,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping an addition to the high school for performing arts center; acquiring, installing and equipping technology for the performing arts center; constructing, equipping, developing and improving athletic facilities and playfields; and developing and improving sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2014 is 0.78 mill ($0.78 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is fifteen (15) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.29 mills ($1.29 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.)