This is the exterior of the former Mather Middle School in Munising. (Journal file photo)

By VICKIE FEE

Journal Staff writer

MARQUETTE — Munising residents will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on a 10-year sinking fund millage to pay for much needed school repairs and improvements, and to address some safety issues that the district’s budget can’t afford, according to Munising Public Schools Superintendent Mike Travis.

“We want to raise awareness for some of the major issues we need to address,” Travis said.

Degrading brick work and structural issues at Mather Elementary School, serious drainage problems in the library at Munising High School, which serves as a public library for the community, are some of the major expenses the district faces.

Residents have strong feelings about Mather. Voters roundly opposed efforts a few years ago to sell the 104-year old building and turn the site into low-income housing.

“Many people have a strong attachment to Mather, where their grandparents and great-grandparents also attended school,” Travis said. “It is a unique and beautiful building, but it is very old and needs significant attention.”

One of the tall chimneys is in danger of collapse.

“The chimneys had to be that tall back when they used coal. I hope we’ll be able to take the chimney down to a lower height.” Travis said.

Over the past decade, declining enrollment has negatively affected funding received from the state, which is the primary source of money for ongoing operations.

“Statewide, Michigan expects to lose 6,800 students in the next school year,” Travis said. “It’s a significant challenge for smaller rural districts like ours. We have limited funding and a tourism district doesn’t translate to people moving here for jobs, so we have a declining enrollment.”

The millage would allow the district to preserve state funds for instruction and programs.

The estimated cost to voters is $9.38 a month, or about 31 cents a day average per owner with a property value of $150,000. Taxable value of $75,000 is 50% of the market value of the property.

In Michigan, the homestead property tax credit would reduce the 31 cents a day even more for low-income individuals and senior citizens who qualify. Total dollars estimated to be generated for the district is expected to produce $342,514 for the 2024 tax year.

“You get a lump sum and pay it off over time. The sinking fund is like a debit card,” Travis said. “We collect taxes twice a year and spend the tax dollars as we receive them. A bond would be asking taxpayers to pay interest.”

A bonus of the relatively small sinking fund investment, Travis said, is that good schools raise property values, which benefits all homeowners while helping to attract young families to the area.

Some priorities include improving the drop-off and pickup area at Mather, replacing aging doors and installing safer doors, and improved lighting. Also scheduled would be installing additional duct work and registers on the second floor of the buildings facing the lake at the middle/high school.

“These upstairs classrooms can get very cold. An assessment showed that the rooms can handle additional ductwork,” Travis said.

“The water issues are getting worse,” said library director Lisa Cromell. “We have some areas in the library that are fairly unusable. We have to arrange things so we can move them out of the way if it starts raining. We have dehumidifiers. Books and water are not a good combination. Our staff janitors do everything they can to keep us high and dry.”

Signs of water damage are visible around the library. Ceiling tiles have fallen. The metal window frame is rusted. Floor tiles in the vestibule are buckling.

The library can’t pay for the structural work since it’s part of the school, but funds from the millage can be used, which benefits not only the school but all community library patrons.

The MPS district has an aging bus fleet, which includes buses that are 13 to 15 years old. The average age of a bus in Michigan is eight years. Over 10 years, the sinking fund would allow the district to get to a position to regularly schedule replacement of buses.

Funding would also be valuable for upgrading computer network infrastructure and wireless access, as well as Chromebooks for students.

Vickie Fee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext 542. Her email address is vfee@miningjournal.net