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TrentonTimesNews.com OCTOBER 26 – NOVEMBER 22, 2023
Trenton Public Schools: Funding the future Proposal to drop hold harmless millage and replace with a sinking fund
O Where You’re Never Just a File Number
Joe Migliaccio
te & For a Fast Quo e, Call Joe! Quality Servic
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www.joemigs.com 21643 Allen Rd, Woodhaven NMLS: #940908 COMPANY NMLS: #129386
ver the last several years, Trenton Public Schools like the rest of the State of Michigan has been faced with the pressure of a declining population. For decades, more Michiganders have left the state than residents of other states have moved in; that trend is projected to get worse. By 2025, Michigan is projected to have a net loss of 14,000 in in-out migration annually, the equivalent of a busload of Michiganders leaving DOUG the state every day MENTZER (Bridge Magazine, TRENTON SUPERINTENDENT May 16, 2023). Ultimately, having less students equates to having less revenue to maintain operations in every way. Why? Because of legislation that was passed over 30 years ago; commonly referred to as Proposal A,
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this legislation shifted the primary source of school funding from property taxes to the sales tax. Consequently, schools in Michigan are funded through several revenue streams (see table). Moreover, school districts like Trenton were permitted to hold a special millage vote in 1994 that is commonly known as a “hold harmless.” Most simply, it gave communities the option to levy an additional tax to keep their funding at the same level they were at prior to the passage of Proposal A. Unfortunately, over the years, this
millage has been reduced from $654 per student in 1994 (equivalent to $1346 in 2023) to $252 today and is dependent on district enrollment numbers. Please note that our enrollment in 1994 was at 3,227; this compares to 2548 students (unofficial) for the 2023.24 school year. Obviously, this also has a significant impact on our overall funding. As a result, TPS leadership has worked hard to explore ways to combat these challenges. Simply hoping for the best is not an option nor is wishing that our challenges will be solved by others. Trenton Public Schools do not follow - we lead! While others will react, we will remain at the forefront of change because our kids deserve it! We are currently moving forward with planning for an additional bond proposal for our community in May of 2024. We are considering a strategy where we eliminate the Hold Harmless SEE FUNDING, Page 3
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