APPROVED MILLAGES will benefit Taylor School District

On Election Day, November 8, Taylor School District voters approved by an overwhelming 59-41 percent margin an enhancement millage for the district. The school millage was the first passed in the district since the late 1960s.

It was one of two ballot initiatives that will directly impact all students in the district. In total, the district will be receiving nearly $3.8M in additional funding per year heading into the near future.

The Taylor School District School Improvement Bond was the result of a collaboration between district officials and Mayor Rick Sollars. They  took the opportunity to ask voters to consider a school improvement bond with a rate of 0.96 mills. 

That rate was chosen specifically to match an expired City of Taylor millage levy to ensure that this school improvement bond, if approved, would have a net zero impact on residents' tax bills. The former 20-year bond levy, which expired in August 2015, targeted purchase and renovation of large sites in the southwest corner of the community.

Funds from this school bond will generate approximately $1.19 million per year for the next five years and are specifically targeted to support the purchase of new school buses, repair and upgrade school buildings, and purchase instructional technology.

At the same time, the Wayne County RESA Enhancement Millage also passed a countywide vote.  That enhancement millage will levy 2 mills for six years, and will bring approximately $2.6 million per year more to district. 

This millage will be used to improve district technology infrastructure; purchase instructional technology for students and teachers; repair, replace and upgrade roofs, boilers, windows, exterior doors and parking lots; and to maintain low class sizes for our students.

Wayne County voters approved the millage proposal that will give schools across the county an additional $80 million in funding in each of the next six years. It's a big win for school districts given voters rejected a similar proposal two years ago. With all but one precinct reporting, the Wayne County Clerk's web site shows the vote as 364,478-308,631.