Possible Bond Proposals to Help Advance Port Huron Schools

News
By Lizzy Berra
Husky Herald Reporter

  The second of two community engagement sessions was held Thursday, October 29th at Port Huron Northern. This session discussed possible bond proposals to fund future projects.

  Port Huron Schools are trying to find out how much of a tax increase voters would support if a bond election came before them.

  “If discussions lead to pursuing a tax increase, it could be on a ballot as soon as May 2016,” said Superintendent of Port Huron Schools, Jamie Cain.

   The 20-member steering committee will recommend to the school board in November whether the district should move forward with a tax increase. The amount and length of the bond has not been determined, but a possible $100 million to $150 million bond proposal was speculated.

  Depending on which bond proposal is decided, the cost will differ for taxpayers. Homeowners whose home is valued at $90,000 would see their monthly taxes increase between $8 and $12.

  “The session will cover the results of a conducted telephone survey, some general ideas for a bond proposal and conceptual drawings of improvements to each building,” said Jeff Wine, chairman of the Building Tomorrow, Today steering committee.

  On the telephone survey, those that attended the meeting voted on which improvements they thought were most important to advance the Port Huron Schools. Some of the options included air conditioning, advanced technology, an early childhood center, a welcome center in the middle schools and high schools, infrastructure improvements, and rebuilding Kimball Elementary.

  The polling showed that community members present felt strongly about creating spaces for science, technology, engineering, art and math opportunities for middle and high school students, while air conditioning was the least of the community's concerns.

  Roughly one-third of respondents in a phone survey showed they would support a tax increase of $108 or less per year, one-third were undecided or would support up to $100 a year, and another one-third said they would not support a tax increase.

  The steering committee will meet one more time, then in November, a recommendation will be brought to the board. The final decision won't be made until December, when the board will be asked to approve a process to put a bond proposal to voters in May of next year.