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Hartland May 2nd Millage: What Tax Payers Need To Know.

!!Property Tax Transparency Alert!!


Did You Know?


A special election will be held on May 2nd to increase and renew an 18-mill levy on non-homestead real estate for the Hartland Consolidated Schools (HCS) operating budget.

▪︎The levy began in 1994 as a temporary, 5-year tax.

▪︎There is no current accounting for exactly how the funds are used.

Hartland Schools falsely claims this is not a new tax and has no impact on residential property (source: page 14, Community Life newspaper, April 2023).

▪︎The current ballot language calls for a claw-back of 0.1061 mills, representing a new tax on appreciated value since the last renewal.

All non-homestead property is subject to the tax, including second homes and residential rentals.

▪︎The millage is disproportionately supported by voters who are not directly assessed for the tax.

▪︎Regardless of direct levy, the entire community pays the tax in the form of higher prices.  

▪︎Renters pay the tax in the form of higher rental rates on residential and commercial property.

▪︎27% of students enrolled in HCS do not live in the district.

▪︎Non-resident students are attracted to HCS’s special services, consuming an unequal share of resources.

▪︎Some of the loudest voices favoring this tax are non-residents and school district employees.

▪︎HCS is paying $35,000 to hold this special, single-issue election in May. Despite cost savings, HCS explains that the election is not held in August because voters don’t flip their ballot over for local school issues.

▪︎If the increase and renewal does not pass in May, a new election can be held in August.

 

Does the administration and board of education represent our community values?


▪︎In March 2023, by a vote of 4 to 3, the Hartland Board of Education voted in favor of authorizing pay raises and multi-year bonuses to school administrators, in advance of passing the millage. 

▪︎The three opposing members, all newly elected to the board as part of the “Clean Slate,” were not opposed to the raises but simply wanted an opportunity to review the employment contracts and understand the performance metrics used to determine the bonuses.  

▪︎In a similar vote, two of the same three Clean Slate board members were censured for exercising their first amendment rights in speaking on a local podcast about parent concerns within the district, before an investigation was even completed and based on false information promoted by the superintendent.

▪︎One of the two censured Clean Slate board members received more votes than any other candidate, including three incumbent board members.

▪︎The three new Clean Slate board members have been criticized for asking too many questions.  

▪︎The BOE president is a union teacher and doesn’t represent taxpayer interests in an unbiased manner.  

▪︎One of the four incumbent board members was never elected to her position.  

▪︎The teachers’ union endorsed several if not all of the incumbents on the ballot last November.  

▪︎Concerns raised by parents include:

*Teachers in union logo-wear attending

rallies to protest conservative values.     

*Teachers injecting personal views

regarding constitutional and political

matters.

*Curriculum that includes pornographic

material.

*Excessive advocation or support for

alternative, non-traditional sexual

orientations.

*Student use of restrooms opposite their

biological sex.

*The independence of board leadership

from the superintendent.


What Can You Do:


▪︎Learn more by attending the next BOE meeting on Monday, April 10th, 6:30 PM at the old high school.

▪︎Share this information with your friends, family, and business partners within the community.

▪︎Contact Superintendent Chuck Hughes with your questions and comments about this issue (ChuckHughes@HartlandSchools.US).

▪︎Vote in the May 2nd election and encourage all qualified residents to do the same.


HT🤠 on Content To: Alex Yarber



Know what you're voting for before May 2nd! All inquiries can be submitted through our new Livingston Lantern Facebook page, coming soon!


~Publius~

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