Hazel Park

Voters show support for Hazel Park Public Schools

By Andy Kozlowski
C & G Staff Writer

Voters in the Aug. 7 election approved a millage increase supporting Hazel Park Public Schools.

HPPS was approved for 3.1 mills between the school improvement bond and building and site sinking fund. The district gets $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value, times the millage rate.

For a Hazel Park resident whose home has an average taxable value of $18,214, the two proposals will cost $56.46 a year, or 15 cents a day. For a Ferndale resident in the district whose home has an average taxable value of $27,302, it will cost $84.64 a year, or 23 cents a day.

The first proposal asked voters to approve an $8 million bond to buy new technology, in particular computers, and to improve the schools and athletic facilities. The tax levy will range from 0.79 mills to 2.10 mills, repaid over 20 years.

The measure was approved by 57.69 percent of the vote (1,418 votes) and denied by 42.31 percent (1,040 votes).

The other proposal was for a building and site sinking fund, in the form of a 1-mill tax raising roughly $304,340 each year for five years. The money can be spent only on fixing and maintaining existing facilities; it cannot be used for operating costs or other expenses such as teacher, administrator or staff salaries.

The measure was approved by 57.49 percent of the vote (1,409 votes) and denied by 42.51 percent (1,042 votes).

Fred Nix, a former teacher, coach and administrator in the district, previously said both measures are very necessary.

“The $8 million for the bond is to fix things, but once we fix them, if we don’t have a sinking fund to maintain them, we’re going to start taking from classrooms,” Nix said. “So it’s critical we have both and understand one depends on the other.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at akozlowski@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1104.