The TRUE Impact on Taxpayers

Why would the School Board make statements that mislead the voters? 

Maybe because IT'S STILL TOO MUCH!!

The School Board has intentionally understated the tax burden this proposal would create by falsely announcing on their website and to the newspaper that "The bond proposal requires a 2.85 mill tax increase which will cost the Saginaw Township Community School District homeowner in a $100,000 home (for example) with a taxable value of $50,000, $142.50 per year." 

However, the actual text of the proposal, submitted to the County Clerk, changes the numbers dramatically. The actual proposal discloses that:

"The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2026 is 3.95 mills ($3.95 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), and that 

"The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 5.21 mills ($5.21 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation)." 

SPECIAL NOTE: The annual increase of the taxable value of a property is capped at the lesser of the rate of inflation or 5%, as long as the property remains under the same ownership. (Headlee Amendment/Prop A)

This limit applies to the taxable value, which is the value used to calculate property taxes. It's important to distinguish this from the assessed value (SEV), which is 50% of the property's estimated market value and can fluctuate more freely with the market.  

Let them know you are paying attention!

Low voter awareness is exactly what our disingenuous school board wants - that's why they have put the proposal on a *township-funded special election ballot  ($110, 000 election cost- you pay this) where very low voter participation is expected.  

If this is such a great proposal, why not put it on the 2026 ballot and give more township residents (who are more tuned in to elections for the mid-terms) the opportunity to weigh in on this tax increase & its reasons?

The reason they don't is because they expect homeowners with young kids to vote yes (unless they homeschool or go to Nouvel)... but they know that most other people want accountability first before they lavish more money on the dreams of school district administrators, consultants, architects, builders, and unions bosses who stand to gain financially from a $170,000,000 taxpayer backed payday.  

Our cynical school board & their allies know that most other people will say NO to this unfocused poorly conceived & extravagant plan...IF they know to vote!  

So, they stack the deck with a special "stealth" election and hope for a low voter turnout.  And why not?  ...since its your money they are spending to hold this vote for the 2nd time in 2 years!