by Graham Sturgeon, co-editor
On Aug. 8, voters of the Byron Area School (BAS) District will be asked to renew the district’s three-mill Sinking Fund. If approved, BAS will collect approximately $550,000 per year for two years. The Sinking Fund was originally approved by voters in 2014 and was renewed in March of 2016. The current millage expires in January of 2018, and renewal would extend the current tax levy through January of 2020. If the millage is renewed, residents would expect to pay $30 per $1,000 of taxable property value.
BAS has used the Sinking Fund revenue to make many updates to its facilities, and there are still updates needed, according to the school system’s Facilities Management Plan. So far, BAS has improved its wireless access, installed new boiler systems in the elementary school and high school, renovated three high school science labs, and work will soon be completed on new high school and elementary school roofs.
The BAS Board of Education decides each year which improvements to make by reviewing the Facilities Management Plan. BAS Superintendent Tricia Murphy-Alderman says future Sinking Fund revenue will be used to maintain and update facilities, with parking lot and outdoor athletic facility improvements up next on the list of updates.
Murphy-Alderman is thankful to district voters for committing to improving the school system’s facilities, and she is hoping that support continues. “I really appreciate the support of the school district in approving and renewing our Sinking Fund,” Murphy-Alderman said recently. “Because of that support, we have been able to complete projects that have benefited our students and community. I look forward to the continued support from our community with this next renewal.”
