School millage renewal is in the best interest of everyone

A number of absentee ballots have gone out in recent weeks.
There are two things for voters to decide on: narrowing down the field of candidates running for city council and the renewal of a school millage.
We can’t stress enough the importance of the school millage. This is a renewal of 18 mills that produces over $1.8 million a year for the public school district. This money is vital in keeping our district financially solvent and able to offer a top-notch education for our kids.
For those wondering about the cost of the millage, the best part is most of us don’t even pay it.
The only folks who pay this millage are those who own commercial properties and rental dwellings. If you own a home and live in it, you don’t pay this tax.
If you rent, you do not pay this tax.
Unfortunately, there are those out in the community who have worked against this renewal. They have used lies to defeat it, saying homeowners will save $500 a year by rejecting it.
That is not true. Homeowners do not pay a single penny for this millage. They will receive no extra money by voting no.
If you are a renter and think you will save rent by defeating this millage you are fooling yourself. Do you seriously believe landlords will reduce rents if they don’t have to pay this millage?
If you believe that, we have a bridge to sell you.
This tax has been in place for 20 years, and its renewal will keep on going for another 10 years.
Keeping this tax alive serves another purpose other than education. By having a secure public school district, our home values remain stable. That’s because people who are house hunting and have a family want to live in a city with a solid school district.
Even if you are a homeowner and don’t have any kids, it’s still in your best interest to support this millage.
On Aug. 4, vote YES for the school millage renewal. And spread the word, too.