Superintendent talks Aug. 6 millage vote

The Marquette Area Public Schools School Board heard an update on the proposed millage facing voters in the August 6 election Monday night.

MAPS Interim Superintendent Bill Saunders is having meetings with community members explaining the importance of the millage.  He said people are concerned about the district, and want to stay informed on the issue.

“The big question is always, ‘What’s the cost?’, ‘What’s the increase?’, those types of things,” Saunders said.  “There will be no cost increase, we continue the levy the 18 mills, which would be what we collect.  That’s on businesses, and non homestead properties, and that’s been in existence since 1994.”

Saunders said the millage would cover one third of the district’s budget.

“That’s the general fund budget that’s used to pay our teachers and staff, that’s used to fund our extra curricular programs, that’s used to pay the lights and the heating bills for the buildings, so that’s really used to operate everything we do in the district.”

There was also discussion about roof repairs done to Cherry Creek Elementary School.  While making repairs, it was discovered parts of the roof were deteriorating, creating cost increases to the project.

The board approved an increased budget to almost $36,000 for the repairs to cover additional costs.