Communities Reject Sinking Fund Millage to Improve Hillman Community Schools
(above) Hillman Elementary will receive a new roof if the Millage is approved by community members.
Hillman- Residents in Montmorency, Presque Isle, and Alpena County made their voice heard Tuesday night by voting ‘no’ to reject a sinking fund millage for Hillman Community Schools.
The count was 266 for ‘yes’ and 273 for ‘no.’ Hillman Superintendent Carl Seiter was nervous on election day but felt optimistic leading up to the vote.
“Most of the discussion has been very supportive and I hope that holds true tonight,” said the Superintendent.
Unfortunately for Seiter, that didn’t hold true. The millage was designed to span from 2018 until 2027, or 10 years. The idea for a sinking fund came from the rejection of a bond in the last election’s vote to consolidate Hillman Community Schools.
“A sinking fund is much different than a bond issue. Sinking fund allows you to levy a millage rate, collect the money each year, and then make that amount of repairs or upgrades each Summer,” said Seiter.
100% of the revenue collected will return to the school system. The revenue generated from the Millage would have amounted to approximately $176,000 per year with the upgrades to security, infrastructure, and general repairs.
A list of items that were to be addressed include updating security, a replacement of roofs for both schools, window replacements, technology upgrades, and improvements to the heating and electrical systems.
