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Officials said they are proposing that the existing 2.39 mill debt levy remain the same for the next two years in order to address several critical needs of the schools.

Superintendent Jon Hoover said he considers the bond proposal a "renewal," because it would incorporate no net increase in debt millage. "The tax rate would not go up, but not go down," Hoover explained.

He added that is difficult to give the bond proposal a name because it is "multi-faceted" in that it would encompass energy efficiency, technology and school bus replacement.

At its regular meeting Feb. 11, the board discussed its intention to make the most out of the three months time it has to communicate the district's needs to the public. Some ways the board is currently exploring include having photographs available of aged and ailing technology and providing tours of facilities that are currently struggling.

"This isn't enhancement," Hoover said about the desired improvements. "This is just business as usual. This is just helping us reach the status quo... we're asking teachers and students to teach and learn, and to do it with dilapidated equipment is just unfair."

The approved ballot language reads as follows:

"Shall Elk Rapids Schools, Antrim, Grand Traverse and Kalkaska Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed One Million Six Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($1,625,000 ) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: acquiring, installing and equipping technology for school facilities; partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping school facilities, in part for energy conservation improvements; and purchasing school buses?"

District Business Manager Jeff Scroggins defined the ballot language for the board at the meeting, dissecting areas within the proposal in which the district will want to elaborate further to the public in the months to come.

Scroggins included the following in his report under "The following is for informational purposes only:"

"The estimated millage that would be levied for the proposal bonds in 2008 is .08 mill ($0.08 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- net increase in debt millage."

Scroggins also said that the statewide average school debt millage is 4.20 and that the schools would be operating under this amount, which was good.

The May 6 election will determine if two board positions currently held by trustee Doug Coates and treasurer Vernon LaLone will remain the same, as well.

Megan Taylor can be reached for question or comment at mtaylor@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-264-9711.