As summer construction is expected to button up over the next few weeks for a fresh school year, Glen Lake has decided to take a different path than the last few years have shown.
After nearly passing a $34 million bond last November, Glen Lake is flirting with the idea of not going for a bond this November. Instead, they would dip into its healthy $8.4 million fund balance to address needs.
The Lakers have been able to save through multiple avenues that include increased federal funding over recent years.
Glen Lake has been building with large projects each of the past 3-5 summers. Glen Lake’s K-12 building desperately needs infrastructure addressed, but an enormous bond is not the way to go in terms of funding. At least at this moment.
The Lakers are finishing up their most recent projects by replacing a majority of the school’s windows, along with a complete rebuild of its septic system. Glen Lake is also rebuilding entrances to make them more secure by taking funds out of their own pocket.
Glen Lake is one of two local districts receiving Impact Aid from the federal government to compensate for the loss of property tax revenue resulting from creation of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Glen Lake receives about $3.4 million from this source each year.
We recognize the Lakers are taking a risk by not going to the public for more money. With this projected move of not going for a bond, if any funding dries up monies spent on infrastructure could put them in a bind in terms of paying its employees. Although risky, dipping into its fund balance shows the community that they are at least thinking about the taxpayer and students.
Glen Lake has managed to remain financially viable over the past decade, despite a complete rebuild of its athletic facilities, playground, and more.
We recognize that the school should address its infrastructure immediately and in a fiscally responsible way that won’t leave kids cold in the winter or for taxpayers footing the ever growing bill.
Glen Lake mulled the idea of going for a $20 million bond this November but momentum slowed as summer approached. The main projects at the feet of the board to get done include infrastructure projects like boilers, roofing, and HVAC, to name a few.
A 15.0696-mill levy, collected on all non-homestead/ non-agricultural property, is the largest source of revenue, estimated to generate $11.8 million. This year’s budget is the first based on a summer levy instead of the fall levy from previous years. State funding is expected to come in at $3.6 million.
