Fate of Bessemer school millage looms

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer — A special election on Tuesday will determine the fate of a proposed continuing millage for the Bessemer Area Schools.

The district’s board of education is promoting the suggested 2.05 millage rate in order to fund long-delayed maintenance at both of its schools; as well as technological upgrades, security needs and construction of a garage to protect buses used by the district.

Polls for the election will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. in the Bessemer City Hall in Bessemer and in the Bessemer Township Hall in Ramsay.

“I want all voters to understand the importance of maintaining our history of both academic and extra-curricular excellence,” stated superintendent Dave Wineburner on Friday. “We will accomplish this by providing quality buildings for students and the community.”

Wineburner has described the proposed millage as a “no-tax-increase bond proposal” or “a continuation of our current levy” because, if approved, it will follow on the heels of a separate millage that just succeeded in paying off the district’s outstanding bonds.

That commitment, which just ended, also was based on a rate of 2.05 mills.

According to a flyer provided by the board, the proposed 2.05 mills translates to estimated annual taxes of $205 per year for a home valued at $100,000 or $51.25 per year for a home valued at $25,000.

If passed, the millage will translate to $1.3 million that the board expects to share fairly evenly between Washington Elementary School and A.D. Johnston Junior and Senior High School.

Projected projects would include replacing 25-year-old roofing, maintaining boiler systems and foundations, and upgrading ADJ’s House of Noise.

The pending millage would be a 12-year commitment, and Wineburner believes the resulting projects would give both schools at least 30 more years of use.

From Wineburner’s point of view last Friday, the improvements will assure “safe and secure facilities” that will permit “the district to continue its proud traditions and create a path for future success.”

On previous occasions, the superintendent also has referenced the community’s desire to retain its current school buildings, rather than to build new schools, expand existing schools, or to consolidate its two schools, let alone to consolidate with any other district.

“If we keep what we have, we need to fix what we have,” said Wineburner at a February board meeting.

The superintendent said that, if the bond passes, related projects will begin in the fall of this year and likely would conclude by the fall of 2020.

Tuesday’s election is solely for the millage vote.