Gqzette file photo

BARAGA — Baraga Area Schools is seeking approval for a sinking fund millage on the May 5 ballot in Houghton and Baraga counties. It would run 10 years from 2027 to 2036 and levy taxpayers three mills ($3.00 per $1,000.)

The fund would appropriate tax dollars to construct and repair facilities, acquire additional transportation vehicles, maintain school buildings, upgrade student technology, improve security and more.

Baraga Area Schools Superintendent, Timothy Marczak, said the previous millage, which ran for seven years, helped fund improvements for student learning and facilities.

“The current projects we finished off the last sinking fund, we did hallways, we put on a new roof, new boilers, controls, gym exhaust, bathroom sinks, LED lights in the hallways and the gym floor is re-done,” he said. “We’re also getting a new parking lot this summer.”

According to Marczak, the new lot will be funded through the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. $694,000 will be given to Baraga Area Schools to complete this project.

The previous funding became limited due to a Headlee rollback, a 1978 Michigan constitutional provision which limits property taxes increases greater than the rate of inflation.

Marczak said the new language of the proposal had to include new measures to ensure upgrades will be properly funded.

“The new language allows buses to be purchased,” he said. “When we go to three mills here, we can purchase buses with that.”

The proposal states the levy will generate approximately $475,000 for the school district. Marczak said he plans to use the funds to continue to improve facilities for student benefit. The sinking fund will not go towards salaries or benefits.

“Our hope, if this new one passes, will be for buses, remove carpeting, installing new doors, LED lights in the classrooms, purchase technology and security upgrades, fire alarm updates, track repairs, bathroom renovations and possibly one addition to the bus garage,” he said. “We want this to be warm, safe and dry.”

Next Wednesday’s ballot proposal is one of two millage proposals on the ballot for the Keweenaw, the other being a millage renewal for Copper Country Intermediate School District and Career and Technical Education.