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Grand Ledge
Independent © 2011 Lansing Community Newspapers
Vol. 161 - No. 43
Schools seek to extend, lower tax Alan Miller
TM
Your very own newspaper serving Grand Ledge since 1869
www.GrandLedgeIndependent.com
October 30, 2011
Reading event is touchdown for literacy
| alanmiller@lsj.com
GRAND LEDGE — On Nov. 8, voters in the Grand Ledge School District will be asked to replace an expiring tax with a new lower tax. Citizens will vote on a proposal to replace a one mill tax levy with an 0.8 mill tax levy. Since voters approved the 10-year one mill “sinking fund” BALLOT in 2002, the district has collected LANGUAGE between $1.2 million and $1.5 million annually. The use of these For full ballot funds is limited by law to capital language, visit improvements, such as purchase of www.lsj.com land, construction or renovation of buildings and other facilities, and major repair projects. It may not be used for salaries, ordinary operating costs or routine maintenance. Projects financed with sinking fund money include: • Asbestos abatement, • New boilers, • New roofs, • Underground drains, • Replacement tennis courts, • Building modifications to comply with disability access requirements, • Parking lot lighting and • Security fences In the most recent year, the school district collected approximately $1.22 million from property taxes for the sinking fund. The school board is asking approval for a new 10-year levy, but at the reduced rate of 0.8 mills which is expected to yield approximately $975,000 annually. One mill represents one dollar of property taxes for each $1,000 of taxable value. Taxable value is ordinarily set at one half of fair market value. For a home with a market value of $150,000 and a taxable value of $75,000, the old sinking fund levy would have resulted in a tax bill of approximately $75 per year, while the new levy, if approved, would result in an annual tax bill of approximately $60.
Owner Randy Preston - over 26 years driving education instruction.
Pictured L-R: Bradley Taylor, Andy Wicks, Connor Anderson, Matt Beatty, Ben Cornell, Ethan Bunting, Zac Keilen, Keefer Johnson, Devin Daniels, Cameron Warstler and Jeremiah Miller. These players are photographed with Dominic Geskey, a fourth grader at Willow Ridge.
Many Grand Ledge varsity football players took the time out of their busy school and practice schedule to read to six elementary classrooms at Willow Ridge Elementary. The players read books and answered questions about their successful football season. Both players, teachers and students loved this community service that will hopefully be a yearly event for many years to come. The Comets had a playoff game against Grand Haven on Friday, Oct. 28, after press time. See www.lsj.com for details. COURTESY PHOTO
School staff member investigated Alan Miller
| alanmiller@lsj.com
A member of the Grand Ledge High School staff is currently on administrative leave following an allegation of inappropriate conduct. On Wednesday, Oct. 26, the district superintendent’s office said the employee
Go with the best, your kids deserve it! CALL TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY AT 517-627-6467
was immediately placed on leave when the district was made aware of the concern. The matter is being investigated by the Grand Ledge Police Department with the full cooperation of the school administration. “This investigation is in its initial stages and no further information will
be released until its completion,” said Police Chief Martin Underhill. A statement from the superintendent’s office said, “The safety and well being of our students is the district’s highest priority; while balancing the rights and privacy of students and employees.”
Preston’s Driving School, Inc. • Segment I - Classes Start Monday, October 31st (Fall Hrs 3p - 5p) • Segment II - Classes Start Friday, November 18th (Fall Hrs 3p - 5p) www.prestondriving.com Grand Ledge High School Room 105
LJ-0100120080
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