11/03/2006

Editorial

TC schools ballot issue deserves a 'yes' vote

The only local schools issue on Tuesday's ballot is a request from Traverse City Area Public Schools to increase by 1 mill the tax levy on all "non-homestead" property, which means businesses and second homes.

It deserves a "yes" vote.

The issue is actually a routine exercise that all state school districts must go through from time to time to meet the requirements of the state's Headlee Amendment and Proposal A, the school funding law.

The Headlee Amendment requires all units of government that levy taxes to reduce their millage rate to make up for increases in property value. To maintain the same income from those taxes, however, districts from time to time need to increase the 18-mill non-homestead levy. If they don't they lose the difference, in this case about $1 million a year.

The issue is to simply maintain tax revenues where they stand now, and won't result in a tax hike for anyone. It doesn't apply to residential homes or qualified agricultural property.

To not give up critical funding, we strongly urge a "yes" vote on the Traverse City Area Public Schools Operating Millage proposal on Tuesday's ballot. This issue should not be confused with state Ballot Proposal 5, which deals with statewide school funding.