No sinking fund for Lakeview on May ballot

On the May 3 ballot, Lakeview School District voters will be asked to approve two bond proposals for facility upgrades instead of three.

Lakeview Board of Education President Kathleen Moore said the board decided to remove a question asking voters to approve a sinking fund from the ballot, leaving two bond proposals left to be approved by voters.

"We know that the sinking fund is going to be a need in the near future, but it's not an immediate need," Moore said. "And we want to have more time to talk to the voters, engage the community, before we actually put that on the ballot."

The 0.4 mill, 10-year sinking fund was slated to pay for site improvements and facility maintenance. Late last year, based on taxable values at the time, that tax rate was estimated to generate $240,000 a year.

On the May ballot, Lakeview voters will be asked to approve:

• a $30 million, 30-year bond estimated to cost taxpayers 1.6 mills for facility improvements and additions
• a $3.25 million, up to 30-year bond estimated to cost the taxpayers an additional 0.3 mills to upgrade the Lakeview Middle School auditorium and install artificial turf at Lakeview High School

Contact Safiya Merchant at 269-966-0684 or smerchant@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SafiyaMerchant