Novi School Officials to Seek $70.9 Million in May 6 Bond Issue Election

Novi Community School District officials have set May 6 as the date for a $70.9 million bond issue to finance projects identified in a recent facilities assessment report.

School officials emphasize that if the bond is passed, it won’t increase the district’s millage rate, the Observer & Eccentric reports.

“The opportunity for a no-millage increase bond issue is primarily due to an increasing tax base in Novi, upcoming declining debt obligations and issuing the bond in two series – in 2014 and 2017,” Superintendent Steve Matthews told the newspaper.

The projects, which would be completed through the year 2020, include:

• $25,121,000 in technology and security, furniture and bus upgrades
• $15,154,000 to expand and build new classrooms
• $35,260,000 in facility and site improvements

The facilities assessment reports, performed by the firm of Plante, Moran Creasa and district officials, provided a clear outline for the school board, said Trustee George Kortlandt.

“We’ve always felt that we needed priorities set in front of us to give us an idea of what we should be approving, what we should be moving forward with, and you folks did that,” he said after the board received the report earlier this month. “And then you put together an excellent committee that truly looked at what was the in best interests of the district, brought suggestions to us for approximately $70 million to be bonded. 

"I am very much in favor of this. I think this is what the district needs to keep its position where it is in the educational world in Michigan and move us forward, even.”

The district has other funding options, but they are limited. The district’s sinking fund is restricted to specific uses, and the recreation fund only allows that a portion of capital assets be dedicated for community use. The board also wants to reserve the general fund for instructional programs.

Trustee Jason Manar said the projects tht would be financed by the bond issue proceeds would “further enhance Novi’ excellence in the future.”

“And my hope is that the voters of this district will see the hard work and effort that’s already been put forth and may continue to realize that this is a zero-percent increase on the debt millage,” he said.