Pentwater, Weare Township voters head to the polls Tuesday.

Pentwater, Weare Township voters head to the polls Tuesday.

PENTWATER — Voters in the Pentwater Public School District are heading to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 2, to vote on a nearly $24 million bond proposal.

Meanwhile, Weare Township voters are deciding whether to allow recreational marijuana dispensaries in the township and are voting on a separate millage renewal for roads.

The Pentwater school district is asking voters to approve a proposal to fund improvements to the existing school and build a new gym and auditorium, running track and soccer field. The district’s current debt millage rate is 1.20 mills, and the proposed millage rate would be 4.05 mills — a difference of 2.85 mills.

The annual increase for a property owner with a market rate home of $100,000 ($50,000 taxable value) is expected to be $142.50 annually, or $11.88 per month.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. 

The three proposals as they appear on the ballot:

PENTWATER PUBLIC SCHOOLS BONDING PROPOSAL

Shall Pentwater Public Schools, Oceana and Mason Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($23,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

remodeling, including security improvements to, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping a school building; erecting, furnishing, and equipping a new gymnasium and auditorium building; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; and developing, equipping, and improving athletic fields and facilities, driveways, parking areas, and a site?

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2022, is 3.22 mills ($3.22 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.52 mills ($3.52 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $0. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

WEARE TOWNSHIP INITIATION OF ORDINANCE

Shall Weare Township adopt an ordinance pursuant to section 6 of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, to wit; an ordinance to be known as the “Adult-Use Marihuana Establishments Ordinance” to provide for the number of adult use marijuana facilities to be operated in the Township, and repeals the previously enacted “Prohibition of Recreational Marijuana Establishments Ordinance” and the 2020-01 Amendment to the “Prohibition of Recreational Marijuana Establishments Ordinance”?

WEARE TOWNSHIP

MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSITION

2.0 MILL FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES

Shall the previous voted increase in the Township of Weare tax rate limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes, previously 1.9802 mill ($1.9802 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) in 2021, be renewed and levied in the years 2022-2024, both inclusive, and shall an additional 0.0198 mill ($0.0198 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) be approved and levied to restore the previous millage reductions under the “Headlee Amendment” since this millage was last approved, resulting in the levy of 2.0 mill ($2.00 per $1,000.00 of taxable value), subject to reduction as provided by Michigan law, on taxable property in the Township of Weare?

The purpose of this levy is to improve and maintain the public roads and rights-of-way within the Township of Weare. It is estimated that a levy of 2.0 mill would provide revenue of $104,284 in the first calendar year, of which $1,032 would result from the additional 0.0198 mill. The revenue from this millage levy will be disbursed to the Township of Weare to improve and maintain the public roads and rights-of-way within the Township of Weare.

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