Byron Area Schools Frequently Asked Questions Bond Proposal
How did this come about? For several years the Byron Area Schools Board of Education has included upgrading facilities as one of the district s primary goals. Striving to provide a 21 st century learning environment for current and future students of Byron Area Schools has been a major objective for the Board of Education. The Board began looking at the facilities in earnest about one year ago and completed a needs assessment. In addition, the Community Parent Advisory Committee studied the buildings which included a facility walkthrough as part of their assessment. The School Board also had several architects and construction management companies evaluate all district facilities. Each of the studies determined similar needs: Current entrances to the buildings are not clearly designated or adequately monitored for secure access to the buildings. The heating, electrical, and control systems in the buildings are inefficient or have exceeded their life expectancy. Science laboratories and other instructional spaces are obsolete. Student and staff access to instructional technology is limited. Cafeteria and gymnasium spaces are inadequate to serve student needs. Expansion of parking and improvements to the traffic flow. In conclusion, the Community Parent Advisory committee, architects and construction management companies agreed with the School Board s goal and vision of adding on and renovating our existing structures. What is the goal? The goal is to provide a 21 st century learning environment for current and future students of Byron Area Schools. The district s goal is: Make all school building more energy efficient by replacing boilers, installing temperature and environmental controls, installing new energy efficient lighting with occupancy sensors, installing new windows and updating electrical service to the buildings. Focus on improving existing buildings and minimize new construction. Provide modern science labs and technology throughout buildings to providing an upto-date environment for students. Provide a common secure entrance and centrally located multi-use cafeteria for the high school and middle school students. Provide a common secure entrance with office space and cafeteria at the elementary school. Increase available parking and improve traffic flow at all buildings. Eliminate modular classroom units
Why is a bond millage needed? Like many other districts across Michigan, Byron Area Schools Board of Education has been struggling to fund both the educational and building maintenance needs of our district through its current operating budget. Due to declining state funding, the district has had to delay making needed improvements. The situation now requires attention before problems in our district get worse and more costly. How much will it cost? The bond will be $13,450,000. This equates to 4.9 mills in additional property taxes. Bond Language The official bond language, what voters will see on the ballot is: Shall Byron Area Schools, Shiawassee, Livingston and Genesee Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirteen Million Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($13,450,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to and remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping school facilities; acquiring, installing and equipping technology for school facilities; constructing, equipping, developing and improving the elementary school playground; and developing and improving sites? How long will the bond be outstanding? The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. How will this affect my taxes? Property taxes will increase as a result of the bond election. A family s net change in taxes is dependent on family income, the number of children in the home and taxable value. Taxable value is 50% of a home s market or assessed value. According to the Shiawassee County Equalization Office, the average property value in Byron is $100,000. A property with an assessed value of $100,000 has a taxable value of $50,000. Here are some examples of how the bond will impact property taxes: Taxable Value Annual Monthly Daily $20,000 $98.00 $8.17 $0.27 $30,000 $147.00 $12.25 $0.40 $40,000 $196.00 $16.33 $0.54 $50,000 $245.00 $20.42 $0.67 $75,000 $367.50 $30.63 $1.01 $100,000 $490.00 $40.83 $1.34 $150,000 $735.00 $61.25 $2.01 Because of the Homestead Property Tax Credit and federal income tax laws, the impact on senior citizens taxes may be zero depending on income and property values.
The net change in taxes for families may also be less than the charts on the previous page show because of the Homestead Property Tax Credit and federal income tax laws. Our financial advisor, Stauder and Barch has provided a convenient online tool to calculate your net change in taxes based on your taxable value, family income, and other information. It s 100% confidential. TaxCalc estimates the after tax impact of millage backed proposals by considering the Michigan's homestead tax credit and the federal income tax deduction of property tax. TaxCalc is an efficient tool for taxpayers to obtain this valuable information. You can access it at: www.mytaxcalc.com/byronarea How does the proposed millage rate compare to other school districts in the area? Other school districts in the area have either constructed new buildings, remodeled older buildings or a combination of the two. For example: District Millage Rate Project Date Durand 6.15 New Middle School (3.43) 1997 Building renovations (2.72) 2006 Morrice 7.0 Replace roofs 1997 New buses 2007 Building Renovations/additions 2008 Linden 4.16 New middle school and renovations 2003 Swartz Creek 1.805 Sinking Fund 2003 Fowlerville 8.34 New middle school and renovations 2004 Howell 7.57 New high school and renovations 2003 Byron Area Schools currently has no debt obligation. Why do the schools need remodeling and upgrades? District schools, though very well maintained, are very old. Boilers and electrical systems have provided service beyond their designed limitations. Science labs and other classrooms are obsolete. All buildings are older than the computer era and do not provide access to 21 st Century technology. The High School is 48 years old, the Middle School is 38 years old, and parts of Byron Elementary are as old as 62 years.
Here is a summary of the construction and upgrades since 1948: Byron Area Schools Building Construction Dates Building Construction Occupancy Elementary Renovations Converted Shop to Cafeteria 1948-49 1949-50 Elementary Additions Home Economics Room 1950-51 1951-52 Lower Elementary Addition East End 1953-54 1954-55 Elementary Addition - Gymnasium 1956 1956 High School Construction 1962-63 1963-64 Upper Elementary Addition West End 1966-67 1967-68 High School Addition - Business Office and Three Classrooms 1966-67 1967-68 Middle School Construction with New Gym and Vocational Education Rooms 1972-73 1973-74 Elementary Addition Eight New Classrooms 1999 2000 How much will it cost when major systems fail? When they fail, replacing infrastructure and other major systems in the buildings will be costly and will exceed the district s ability to do so with general funds or fund equity. For example, for all buildings the cost to replace infrastructure will be: System Cost to Replace Boilers $820,000 Electrical Service $905,000 Sidewalks and Parking Surfaces $800,000 How is this different than the bond proposal in 2005? This is a much smaller request. The proposal in 2005 was to build a new high school and remodel the existing buildings. The bond amount would have been $23,815,000 resulting in a millage rate of 6.99. It also would have changed the grade configurations in the district. This proposal is designed to improve the common areas of the schools, upgrade our infrastructure and technology and extend the usefulness of our existing facilities.
With declining enrollment why does the district need more space? The proposed project does not add any new classroom space. It does add much needed common and student friendly spaces that we do not currently have. For example, it is impossible to seat all of our middle school students in the cafeteria. It is too small. Middle school students also have to walk outside across the campus to get to the cafeteria. The cafeteria at the elementary school is too small to adequately serve our students. As a result some elementary school students eat lunch as early as 10:30 AM. Because we will have to use existing space at the high school for classrooms, the district office will be moved to the elementary school and will be incorporated in the remodeling of the current cafeteria. Why is the district trying to pass a bond at the same time they are making budget cuts? Funding for this project is independent of the support the district receives from the state. The school district receives funding for operations on a per pupil basis from the state. The school district does not receive funds from the state for building improvements. Funding for building and remodeling projects, raised by issuing bonds, cannot be used for operational expenses like salaries, benefits, supplies and textbooks. Bond funds can only be used for building construction, furnishings, instruction technology, new furniture and remodeling. A bond project will allow the district to reallocate operational funds now being spent on repairs and maintenance of aging facilities. For example, an energy audit of the school done in 2008 showed the district could save as much as $68,000 per year by retrofitting the lighting in the buildings, adding an automation system to the lighting, heating and air handling systems, installing new boilers and replacing windows in the connecting hallway between the high school and middle school. These funds could be used to provide new textbooks, computers or other supplies for students. There is potential for even greater savings with the proposed bond. What is the timeline? The election will be held on November 8 th. Construction will begin the following summer. If the bond millage passes, how will the millage collected be used? The money collected will be used strictly for new construction, remodeling, some new furnishings and instructional technology at Byron Area Schools school buildings, facilities and parking areas. School districts are prohibited by law from using debt taxes and bond proceeds for building maintenance, buses, teacher salaries, staff salaries or benefits. Upon completion of the bond project, the school district must also file an independent audit of the construction expenditures with the Department of Treasury showing that the bond proceeds were properly spent and that competitive bidding laws were followed. If the millage passes, when will the community begin to see improvements made to the buildings and facilities? There will be noticeable improvements after the summer of 2012. The project should be completed by fall, 2013. What improvements are going to be made and to which school buildings in the district? The bond millage will be used to make safety and security improvements, energy conservation improvements, technology enhancements and remodeling at all school buildings in the District.
Here are the improvements that will be made: Replace boiler with two energy efficient boilers Upgrade temperature controls for energy conservation Replace electrical panels and retrofit existing lights with high efficiency lamps Provide occupancy sensors for lighting to reduce energy use Replace existing windows with insulated units Provide new fire alarm system Provide a new phone system Remove existing modular classroom units Provide projectors and smart boards in classrooms New main entry, cafeteria and office addition Revise existing north parking lot and expand parking area to create separate Byron Elementary School bus and parent drop-offs with additional parking Remodel kitchen and create storage room Remodel existing offices into special education rooms Remodel kindergarten enrichment into corridor, restrooms and childcare Improve student traffic flow by remodeling existing classrooms into new corridor and restrooms Remove current lobby to create required open courtyard Remodel existing cafeteria into district offices Replace sidewalks Provide changing rooms and restrooms in gym Relocate one playground structure Byron Middle and High Schools Replace boiler with two energy efficient boilers Upgrade temperature controls for energy conservation Replace electrical panels and replace or retrofit existing lights with energy efficient lamps Provide occupancy sensors for lighting to reduce energy use Replace existing windows with insulated units Replace exterior doors at entrances to the high school Provide new fire alarm system at the high school Provide a new phone system for classrooms Remove existing modular classrooms Remodel two high school science rooms and adjacent classrooms into two larger and updated science classrooms Remodel high school classroom for a new computer lab and provide new computers Provide projectors and smart boards in classrooms Replace interior doors New centrally located cafetorium, kitchen and restrooms Improve student traffic flow and building security with new main entry, canopy, new middle school offices, and new high school offices Remodel existing business office area, adjacent corridor and classrooms into new high school offices, and classroom Remodel existing cafeteria and kitchen for an auxiliary gym and classroom Remodel existing high school and administration offices into two classrooms Replace sidewalks and drives at main entrances Remodel locker rooms Replace bleachers in the gymnasium Contact Information Daniel L. Scow, Superintendent of Schools Byron Area Schools 312 West Maple Byron, MI 48418 (810) 266-4881 email: scow@byron.k212.mi.us
Byron Elementary School Plan Byron High School and Middle School Plan