UPDATE.
McBain — Voters in the McBain Rural Agricultural School District have approved the continuation of their operating millage by a vote of 383-248.
Superintendent Scott Akom said the millage will not raise taxes for homeowners because it’s a non-homestead millage renewal.
Akom said the state requires Michigan school districts to levy 18 mills to get their full per pupil funding and it’s essential to the school’s bottom line.
“The school would not receive the full funding from the state of Michigan. We would be cut approximately about $1.9 million,” said Akom.
He said that would be a good chunk of change cut out of their $16 million operation budget.
The impact would likely come from staff cuts.
“The majority of our budgets are spent on people. We’re in the people business, right? I mean, our product is students graduating and going outside into the world. And we do have to make cuts. And oftentimes it does affect people with staffing,” said Akom.
He said hopefully, it won’t come to that.
“McBain has been very consistent in passing this millage, and I think that they understand the importance of it, and they understand the need for it for full state funding. It’s a millage that is taxed on businesses, vacation homes, properties. Most agricultural properties that are exempt from this millage. You can always look at $1 equals one down $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. So, 18 mills would be $18 per $1,000 of taxable value, “said Akom.
He said right now they are already estimating what the school’s budget will be like, still not knowing how much money they are getting at the state level since the legislature failed to have a budget agreement done by June 30th, which is usually the way things are done. The hard deadline is September 30th.
“We were able to make some educated guesses last year and it did work out. We did have some hiccups and, and the state did come in and kind of offset some of the cost again, to help schools,” said Akom.
Akom said they are plugging away, preparing for the school year that kicks off in just a few weeks.
He said no matter what happens, they will do what’s best for the students and maintain the school’s programs.
