Novi Voters Will Decide $71 Million Bond Issue Tuesday

Voters in the Novi school district will go to the polls Tuesday to decide a nearly $71 million bond issue proposal to improve district facilities, including the construction of a new early childhood center.

School officials emphasize that if the bond is passed, it won’t increase the district’s millage rate, due mostly to an increasing tax base in Novi, upcoming declining debt obligations and a plan that would issue the bond in two series, 2014 and 2017.

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

Novi Superintendent Steve Matthews told the Detroit Free Press the district isn’t asking voters ot approve anything that isn’t necessary.

“We’re asking them to continue to maintain our buildings at a level our community expects and provide the education that our kids need,” he said.

Issuing the bonds in two series is “the best way for us to generate revenue to do needed projects in the district, but not ask taxpayers to pay a rate higher than they’re currently paying,” Matthews said.

In addition to building a new early childhood center to serve the 275 children in the district who are housed in buildings throughout the district, the proposal would eliminate 16-year-old portable classrooms.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.