Baraga Area Schools will ask voters to restore funding for ongoing facility maintenance when they head to the polls May 5.
The district seeks voter approval to bring the sinking fund’s millage rate back to 3 mills. The measure would generate $475,000 annually to support regular maintenance projects across district facilities.
Superintendent Timothy Marczak said the sinking fund provides more flexibility than traditional bond measures for addressing facility needs.
“There’s a little bit more flexibility on the sinking fund than actual bond,” Marczak said. “Bond would be if you want to add a couple classrooms, you need money up front, where these are projects that will go on for the next 10 years with the sinking fund.”
The funding would support several key areas, including maintaining student transportation, upgrading technology to improve school security, and preserving facility infrastructure throughout the district.
Baraga Area Schools originally approved its sinking fund in 2019. However, the millage rate has decreased each year due to the Headlee Amendment, which limits property tax increases.
The sinking fund allows the district to plan regular maintenance projects on a scheduled basis, rather than addressing issues reactively or seeking separate funding for each project. Find the Baraga Area Schools Sinking Fund millage language here.
