Farmington Schools May Pitch 2-Part Bond Proposal in November

After the defeat of a $222 million bond referendum Aug. 6, Farmington Public Schools officials may bring another bond request to voters, but in a different form. 


On Tuesday, district staff presented school board members with details of a proposed November referendum, reducing the requested amount by more than $38 million and presenting two questions. 

"You can consider proposal one the 'must haves', and proposal two the 'really neededs'," facilities director Jon Riebe said. 

Proposal 1, for safety and security improvements, infrastructure improvements, technology, and classroom and media center remodeling, comes to $154.6 million. Proposal 2 focuses on high school performing arts centers, outdoor athletic field and track resurfacing and a technology refresh, at a cost of $31.6 million.

No longer on the table are upgrades to high school commons and cafeterias, building a new swimming pool and creating an auxiliary gym at Harrison High and a North Farmington locker room addition. Eliminating the commons/cafeteria projects and going with more traditional furniture in the lower grades reduced the furniture budget by 25 percent, Riebe said.

Proposed ballot language indicates the district will not undertake Proposal 2 projects unless Proposal 1 also passes. 

The estimated impact of both proposals for an average-priced home in Farmington is $8.75 and $11.41 in Farmington Hills. Assistant superintendent Catherine Cost said a number of factors drove up the tax impact ($7.91 and $10.17 for the $222 million bond), including the economic impact of Detroit's bankruptcy filing.

Bonds would be issued in three series, each repaid in no more than 25 years, she said. 

Superintendent Sue Zurvalec said the Farmington Forward Steering Committee and Capital Finance Planning Task Team members, who laid the groundwork for the $222 million bond, felt the district should move forward in November to keep momentum, reinforce the necessity of the bond and engage more parents with school underway. 

However, Zurvalec said, the committees acknowledged the short turnaround "may cause people to question our process" as not allowing enough time for community feedback. There also remains an organized voice against the bond, she said. 

To put a bond on the November ballot, officials must file their resolution with election officials by Aug. 27. The board will hold a special meeting Aug. 26, at North Farmington High School, to receive community feedback. Officials also met this week with a focus group of people who voted on both sides of the bond issue, Riebe said. 

In addition, an online survey about the failed bond referendum remains open through Aug. 22.