Special Ed Millage
- Jim Reevs
- Apr 28, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 22, 2023
Press Release
Included in this release is information about the May 2, 2023 special
education millage, which would impact the Marquette-Alger Regional
Educational Service Agency school districts.
If this millage passes it would be one of the largest tax increases ever passed onto
taxpayers for local school districts. The need for the millage certainly can be
debated, but what is clear is the amount requested and the 20-year life span is very
significant.
The $4.7 million dollar per year amount times 20 years makes the millage request $94
million dollars, which is the largest millage request by far that I am aware of for local
school districts in over 30 years.
In a Tuesday April 18 th article published in The Mining Journal they listed the cost of the
millage on a $200,000.00 home at a cost of .42 cents per day or $12.50 per month. That
number doesn’t seem that scary, but when you look at the actual cost per year over a
20-year period of time the cost is very significant. The $12.50 per month cost times 12
equals $150.00 per year. Now take the amount of $150.00 per year times 20 years and
the actual cost for the millage comes out at $3,000.00 per taxpayer that own a
$200,000.00 home.
Another thing to be considered is that there is a conversation that the State of Michigan
may be adding more money to special education in the very near future. I have heard
the amounts may be around $800,000.00 per year to local school districts. That would
decrease the amount needed to fund the deficit to $3.9 million. This is a question that
could be asked of the Alger-Marquette RESA Superintendent Greg Nyen.
Local media plays the role of community watchdog, it is their responsibility to inform taxpayers about the cost and the impact this millage would have on them. Voters can decide if they want to vote Yes or No based on the need for special education funding. Before taxpayers vote, I would encourage them to get educated on the needs for the millage request, which will help them to determine which way to vote. Any stories should include the pros and cons relating to this millage vote, which certainly includes the potential cost to each homeowner. Any questions regarding this press release can be directed to Jim Reevs at 906-250-2792.
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