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November 3, 2022 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN PAGE 5

WAYNE - WESTLAND
WAYNE - WESTLAND

School questions to be on ballot Tuesday

2 board member terms to be decided District seeking sinking fund renewal

In addition to deciding on a sinking who currently serves on the City of Inkster Members of the Wayne-Westland The new sinking fund, a 1/10th of a mill
fund millage to help finance repairs and parks commission. She has worked for Community Schools Board of Education increase is anticipated to generate about
equipment in school buildings, voters in Starfish Family Services and has organ- have approved a sinking fund millage ques- $2.2 million annually. The current sinking
the Wayne-Westland Community Schools ized Getting Ahead and Bridges out of tion which will face voters on the Nov. 8 bal- fund generates about $1.8 annually and dis-
district will also choose two members of Poverty in local schools. lot. trict officials are mindful of the need for the
the board of education. Gray is also first-time candidate who The 1-mill tax request is an effort to estimated $400,000 increase. Officials said
Five candidates are vying for the two has worked as a clerk for the Michigan replace the current sinking fund levy which the current sinking fund has paid for roofs,
available terms including current board State Senate education committee and as will expire next year. If approved by voters, boilers and parking lots and other building
president David Cox. He is employed as a an executive assistant for the Michigan the requested millage will become effective infrastructure repairs.
tax appeal consultant. Cox, the incumbent, Association of Secondary School in 2014 and continue for a term of 10 years, A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of taxable
has been involved in city and school gov- Principals. according to ballot language. value of a home, usually about half market
ernment for more than two decades and This is also Collup's first campaign for Sinking funds can only be used to support value.
cites his experience in school finance and political office. She lists her participation school safety improvements, technology The Sinking Fund will allow the district
administration among his qualifications. in an online local community discussion improvements and repair and construction to properly maintain the more than 1,868,816
Also vying for one of the two terms on group on her official website. of school buildings and facilities. New lan- square feet of educational space and 587
the board are candidates LeWanna Ryleigh Strong is also a first-time can- guage in the state rules for use of a sinking acres of grounds and property in a condition
Abney-Mitchell; Denise Collop; Bradley didate who lists his participation in the fund millage now allows districts to use suitable for the thousands of students and
Gray and Ryleigh Strong. Wayne Westland online community dis- funds for security upgrades and technology community members that use the schools on
Abney-Mitchell is a first-time candidate cussion board on his website. upgrades or improvements. a daily basis, officials said.
Wayne voters are asked to approve tax hike

In addition to choosing three the market value of a home, suit which the city did not defend
city council members, Wayne vot- would cost the owner of a ” in 2020, the city was ordered by
ers will be asked to approve a $100,000 home in the city about Voters have rejected requests the court to levy 13 mills to pay
new 8-mill tax hike on the Nov. 8 $400 annually. for increased millages f the pension costs.
ballot. City officials have stated that The city is currently levying
The new tax levy will be used the pension obligations are too rom the city twice. the maximum tax amount
to help fund the pension obliga- steep for the current tax revenue allowed by state law and must
tions of the city toward retired collected. They claim that nearly have voter approval to increase
public safety employees, accord- 40 percent of the city budget is pension fund within the next two while the city has 202 retirees taxes any further. Voters have
ing to city officials. The new tax, paid into the pension fund. years and does not have a rev- collecting pension payment, only rejected requests for increased
which is $1 for every $1,000 of Officials claim that the city will enue base to make those pay- 76 current employees are paying millages from the city twice in
assessed valuation, usually half owe another $16 million into the ments. Currently, they claim that into the fund. In a “friendly” law- past elections.
Voters to choose Wayne City Council members

Voters in Wayne will choose tem in 2024 so all council mem- nel director in the city, and works in project management favor.
three city council members bers will be voted on by all elec- incumbent Phillip Wagner will and service on the city parks In Ward Four, Deborah Wass,
from five candidates each seek- tors in the city. In that election, vie for the seat in Ward Six. and trails committee and Rabih who was appointed to the seat
ing a two year term during vot- all six council seats and the Wagner has served on the coun- Darwiche, who manages a gym last year, is the only candidate
ing next week. position of mayor will be on the cil since 2018. and is the director of opera- seeking the term. She has pre-
Seats will be filled in wards ballot. In Ward Five, two first-time tions and peer recovery coach viously served on the city plan-
four, five and six in the city. The Next Tuesday, Matthew candidates are seeking elec- for the Safe Substance Abuse ning commission and board of
city will disband the ward sys- Mulholland, the former person- tion. Eric Cleereman, who Coalition hope to gain voters' review.

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