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Why weren’t school buildings maintained?

As a retired senior I resent the fact that I’m being given a guilt trip over the millage vote of our educational system. I have worked and paid property taxes on a homestead, business and recreational properties for 59 years. In those 59 years I can’t add up all the school taxes that were paid, among the many other tax descriptions on my statements. I have raised three children and they have attended our public schools.

My July 2019 property taxes for homestead were; State Education Tax $489.60 and $84.37. In

December 2019 on the same property, Alpena County has the remainder of the school taxes; School operating 18 mills (exempt), School debt 1.8 mills $146.88, ESD operating 0.21390 mills $17.45, ESD Special 1.97430 mills $161.10, ACC 2.50000 mills $204.00. On the adjoining property; School debt $25.31, ESD operating $3.00, ESD special $27.76, and ACC $35.15. For a yearly (2019) total of Homestead School taxes paid; $1,194.62. This doesn’t include any non-homestead property; add another $1,000-$2,000 additional School Tax, 18 mills each, for hunting camps and cottages.

Repairs and maintenance are normal for any building. All of the school buildings need roofs and heating systems? They were not all built at the same time. Do we just let problems go until instead of thousands of dollars for repairs it exceeds millions for replacement and another 25 years of bond taxes? Why wasn’t each addressed and maintained when the furnaces and roofs needed to be replaced as they had exceeded their warrantied time limit? What monies have been set aside for repairs without renewal of a 25 year bond. I have a furnace person check my heating system every fall, checked the warranty on roof shingles, and have a contractor check for any wear signs. It’s called maintenance, folks.

DIANE LASECK,

Lachine

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