TECUMSEH, Mich. — On Tuesday, voters in Tecumseh will decide whether to approve a levy that would generate more than $7.5 million for the city's public school district that officials say would be used for repairs, maintenance and improvements of school facilities.
Most Tecumseh residents WTOL 11 spoke with downtown say they support the 1.75-mill levy.
"I have never failed to vote in favor of a proposed school millage," said resident Phillip Schaedler.
Schaedler said his decision on Tecumseh Public School's upcoming levy was easy, especially since his kids were students in the district.
"As far as I can tell, the school has done nothing but improve, and if voting for the millage allows them to do that, I'm in favor of it," he said.
One person in downtown Tecumseh said they were undecided on the levy because they didn't know much about it.
District Superintendent Matt Hilton wants to educate voters in the remaining days before the election on Tuesday. He said the district has struggled to pass levies in the past, recently with two separate bond issues in 2022 to build another elementary school.
The district later consolidated, closing two middle schools and cutting about ten staff members.
"We have since listened to the feedback of the community, made some decisions to really prioritize the needs that we have, and gone back with a sinking fund effort," Hilton said.
A sinking fund levy would allow the district to pay cash for repairs and improvements without collecting debt, according to Hilton.
If the levy passes, he said the district's board of education will also set aside 3% of its annual budget for building repairs, which would bring in an additional $750,000.
Hilton said the district plans to use some of the funds to repair school roofs and fix the community pool, which it has been patching for years.
"It's things that are not exciting but need to be done," he said.
The district said the cost to property owners will be $131.25 a year for a home with a taxable value of $75,000.
Schaedler said he thinks that's a small price to pay.
"If school millage is a part of property tax, then so be it," Schaedler said.
If the levy fails, Hilton said cuts may be possible.