EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is another question-and-answer style of information article about the May 2 Wayland Union Schools bond issue. Voters are reminded they will are permitted to vote by mail before the election date and those interested in doing that rather than showing up in person should get in touch with their city to township clerk.

An answer to a frequently asked question about the bond:

Q: I think that the improvements are needed and wanted, but the cost has me wondering — why so much?

A: This zero mill bond will not raise our school property taxes. We have been paying 8.4 mills annually since 2014 and we will continue to pay 8.4 mills. The total dollar amount for this bond was determined based on construction and architectural professional assessments of the schools’ needs and project price research based on current and ongoing local projects’ current construction costs.

The infrastructure that will be paid for with the bond truly are needs, not wants (NOT what was seen referred to in another post, “Taj Mahal schools”). With inflation and increasing construction costs, if this bond doesn’t pass it will only cost the school and taxpayers MORE if we kick the can down the road a few more years. The needs are not going away.

The middle school will still need a new roof and windows. The band room still needs to be expanded and modernized. Elementary bathrooms still need to be reconstructed to meet current American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

And yes, the most expensive part of the bond is indeed the pool. But the current pool will very shortly no longer be usable and will need to be closed and filled in. The amount being proposed for a reconstructed, up to safety standards pool is actually less for the version being proposed by Wayland than for other recently built community/school pools in neighboring districts.

We could be asking for something “fancier,” but the district (officials) knows that our community expect them to be a good stewards of the funds and asked the architects for a pool that meets our needs at a cost efficient price.

Assistant Superintendent for Finances and Operations Patricia Velie said she would be to speak with anyone who would like even more financial details, such specifics on how the total amount was determined as a need. You can request a phone call or appointment by emailing finance@waylandunion.org

19 Comments

Bob Genther
April 16, 2023
What is not being said in all of this is that the term of the current 8.4 mill debt would be paid off when?? If approved, taxpayers would be paying this rate for another 30 plus years? more importantly, why are we faced with an all or nothing scenario? Why not put all needed repairs in one proposal and the pool in another? By reading this latest post, I see the pool will be filled in and eliminated if the millage fails. Is this true? Or if the milage fails, will engineers figure out a way to demo the pool and replace it in the same building, therefore saving a bunch of taxpayer money?
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Wayland Union Bond Committee
April 17, 2023
Hi Bob, we encourage you to reach out to Mrs. Velie for the definitive word from the district, but yes, once the pool has reached the point of "no repair" it will need to be closed and either torn down or then converted (at no small cost-will probably require another bond issue!) to other usable space. This point of closing the pool will be here within a few years. Hard to know when the last major break will happen. I'm not sure what you refer to as an all or nothing scenario. When it comes to the pool usability, this is truly where the district is at. The existing space cannot be converted into a modern facility that meets the needs of the the community and current regulations for safety in the existing footprint of the current pool. Consulting architects have determined that It is more cost-effective to use that space for the new expanded music classrooms and construct the pool in the adjacent open space. (Due to the depth required, existing space would need to be completely re-excavated to install the plumbing infrastructure, etc). And in doing so, that would not allow any space to expand the band and orchestra learning spaces. So yes, for the high school construction, it is indeed "all or nothing". As for the mills, yes they are being extended. This information has been clearly presented by both the district and the bond committee. I do not think Town Broadcast was intending to present every detail of the bond in this brief report. Our taxes fund our school infrastructure as intended in this state. You can view a slide with a graphic on how past and current mills are stacked in the FAQ section on www.waylandunionbond.com.
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Patricia A Velie
April 17, 2023
Hello Mr. Genther - As stated in the bond information posted on the Bond Committee Facebook page and is available on the district Bond page: https://waylandunion.org/district/bond-2023/ the new debt will extend our current need of 8.4 mills (zero add for this ballot proposal) 25 years and 10 months. This is also stated in the district's State of Michigan Treasury application as approved by the Board of Education at a public meeting. Why all or nothing? Because every one of these projects is needed. This is not a wish list. These are real needs as determined by work committees across the district. The 48-year old pool is failing and cannot be repaired another time and why would we pour good money into a pool that does not provide for full operational status. A question I hear often is why not re-hab the current pool? Opening the walls, digging it deeper, fixing all the infrastructure makes for a very expensive remodel, a remodel of this magnitude is more expensive than a new pool space. Additionally, where the current pool is located does not provide the space necessary to perform the expansion necessary. Again, needs not wants, the band space (originally intended for 60 students and now houses 100+ band students AND the orchestra program which did not exist in 1974) is too small and not hearing safe due to noise levels of almost more than 50% of classroom sizing. The old pool makes great sense to provide BOTH programs a usable space with safe sound levels and storage for both programs. Many districts would say we need to two such rooms, again Wayland is conscious of taxpayer dollars and said we can make this space work for both programs. The choir room has the same issue (built in 1974 for 20 - 25) the programs are bursting at the seams. The old band room makes perfect sense for this growing program. The Computer Aided Drafting program (CAD) (career tech program) needs its own space (not what was carved out of the old wrestling room). The choir room makes great sense for this programming. The old wrestling space should be its own space again (right now has a temporary wall to provide space for CAD) and provide space for youth wrestling up to high school training area. This space can double as a safe space for Community Education classes, cheer practice, and color guard practice. The woodshop and auto shop need upgrades. Our high school Wayland Wildcats First Robotics team won the Michigan State First Robotics Competition Title (GO ROBOTICS!!!!) they need a space at the high school. Students in these programs are ready to join the workforce upon graduation. The skills learned in these programs put our graduates to work in fields that are seeing a reduced labor force. The middle school is almost 30-years old. The original parts of the building need a new roof and windows. The elementary buildings need ADA bathrooms for boys and girls as well as other larger projects. Why didn't the district split up the projects? Because every project here is a need. The current 8.4 mills (zero change to what the district currently collects and has since 2014) is enough to provide these needs. Yes, the debt will add 25 years and 10 months at the 8.4 mills rate. One more question I keep hearing is why do I and others like me care so much? I am retiring, I don't have children in the district (I did and both received a great WUS education and are doing very well in their career choices, one is career Army and the other a pharma research scientist). Many are like me that are working on this bond issue. It is because we care about the children that are in our district and the children that will be here. WUS must look to the future to provide for the educational experiences that will propel these students to their futures. IS music, woodshop, auto shop, CAD, STEM, and other activities essential for our students' educational experience-YES! We educate the WHOLE child. I likely gave you more than you wanted:), but I am willing to sit down and talk about all projects and all topics here at the school. Call me 269 792 2181 or email me finance@waylandunion.org Thank you for listening and always thank you for your input. Pat Velie
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John Wilkens
April 17, 2023
Patricia, Do you have student counts for say the past 10 years just at the High School? Counting students in seats, not online learning, alternative ed, etc. Just curious if numbers have been increasing or decreasing. Thanks for your help! Cheers!!
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Erin Stepek
April 17, 2023
Just wanted to point out that students in any kind of alternative learning setting still often take elective classes like music and industrial technology within the walls of the high school. And of course are welcome to be part of any athletic teams or extracurriculars such as swimming or robotics.
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John Wilkens
April 17, 2023
Bob, You ask some very excellent questions. In these tough economic times, soaring inflation, interest rates out of control, (Supt. Tim) Reeves and the school board want to spend nearly 50 million dollars on a pool and some other upgrades to some of the buildings. Their wants and needs certainly are different than my wants and needs, I am not sure about yours. A pool is not a need. There are several districts that do not have pools. Additionally, we are paying extra money for education that is already available. Allegan County Tech Center offers both woods and auto programs. So now if passed by the voters we will be paying twice for the same education. Kicking the can down the road for another 25+years is not being responsible. It's unfortunate for the voter that Reeves and the WUS board chose to run this as the only issue on the ballot. Fortunately for the board this issue will likely pass as folks are not likely to show up and vote for only one issue. They (Reeves & WUS board) knew better not to run this last November. My opinion. Cheers!!
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Patricia A Velie
April 17, 2023
Mr. Wilkens - In all transparency and accountability, the district did not put this Bond proposal on the November ballot as we could not meet the timeline required by the State of Michigan Treasury department for a qualified Bond. "Bonds qualified by the State Treasurer provide school districts with: Access to the State's credit rating; which will usually result in a lower interest rate and cost. Ability to borrow for the principal and interest requirements of outstanding qualified bonds (subject to a minimum debt millage)." We were just able to make the May election process deadline. Thank you. Pat Velie
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FRWF
April 17, 2023
I'm afraid Mrs. Velie explaining this is like beating a dead horse, but I can't understand Mr Wilkens he's praising the board for Internet mental health treatment then opposed them on the bond issue. And back in 2020, he was a big supporter of the assistant superintendent. This is his own words he sent to Townbroadcast after a comment from DTOM on a search for a new superintendent.
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John Wilkens
April 17, 2023
Patricia, Do you have the student count numbers for the past 10 years at the high school level? Reading that these rooms are suffering from overcrowding, I assume the high school numbers must be increasing dramatically.........Just asking...... Thanks! Cheers!!
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Patricia A Velie
April 18, 2023
Hello Mr. Wilkens - Numbers are fairly consistent over the last ten years. Students participating in programs such as orchestra and band has increased significantly. Reminder that orchestra was not available in 1975. Other programs have seen significant growth as we prepare students for graduation and the work world. A diversified student is a great student for the community and the world in which they will work in. Year Enrollment 2022-23 861.19 2021-22 849.87 2020-21 869.46 2019-20 830.69 2018-19 847.37 2017-18 887.87 2016-17 887.22 2015-16 885.66 2014-15 848.96 2013-14 882.47 Thank you for checking in. Pat Velie
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John Wilkens
April 18, 2023
Patricia, Thank you very much for this information. Cheers!!
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Erin Stepek
April 17, 2023
Just to clarify, you are advocating for shuttering the auto shop, the wood shop, laying off the teachers that teach those classes, and closing/tearing down the pool? Sounds like a great way to reduce our students' educational opportunities and offer them a substandard education in comparison to past generations who had those learning experiences that you want to remove.
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Fred Walker
April 18, 2023
From the literature I am looking at we are going to spend nearly 1.9 million dollars on the administration building. Steeby, Baker and Dorr elementary schools are getting less than this combined. What is the priority here? This doesn't appear to be a need. How can I respond and justify this expense to my neighbors? Thanks
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Wayland Union Bond Committee
April 18, 2023
Please see the Town Broadcast article published 2 weeks ago titled "School bond proposal will help local senior citizens" for an explanation of what the 1.9 million expenditure on the administration building is for. It is to expand the community meeting space, which is much needed. As for the elementary buildings, the district has been a good steward of these structures and using the other district funding to provided needed updates and repairs over the years. There is less need at this time to build or expand these buildings. Now they need bathroom updates and other "Wear and tear" repairs, but nothing major. This is good news! Money raised via the bond can be allocated to where the true needs are--the high school classrooms and pool, and the middle school roof and windows.
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Patricia A Velie
April 18, 2023
Hello Mr. Walker - Thank you for your question. The administration building expense is to add a much needed community room. As part of this community room expansion the entrance will be re-positioned to accommodate large group use during the day and the ADA parking necessary for large group use. ADA bathrooms and a small kitchenette area (non-cooking) is part of the plan as is a general re-working of the existing admin office areas, which are only being addressed to meet ADA requirements. The community room will be open to the Leisure Life group that currently meets at the transportation conference room (too small for their growing numbers), Community Education classes, Board of Education meetings, and open to the community to reserve through the district's reservation system. As to what is being spent here and not at the elementary buildings - we have consistently worked on the elementary buildings with all bond proceeds (since 1999 - 2018) and have never performed any repairs/updates at the administration building to include a much needed community room. The addition of the community room space makes great sense as this location does not have students during the day; therefore, use by Leisure Life, district meetings, and other programming/meetings, during the day is a good way to provide for the community's meeting needs. Thank you for the question and please ask any others. Pat Velie Pat Velie
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Fred Walker
April 18, 2023
Second question from my neighbor. How much will Wayland Union Schools pay in debt servicing the life of these bonds? How can a Wayland resident buy these bonds IF the proposal passes?
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Wayland Union Bond Committee
April 18, 2023
Links aren't allowed to be attached in these comments, but please visit the FAQ tab on the waylandunionbond.com website for more information on how the debt and bonds will work.
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Patricia A Velie
April 18, 2023
Hello Mr. Walker - Sorry for the delay, it was a busy Tuesday. In our State of Michigan Treasury application we are projecting a total debt service cost of $86,187,688 ($49,700,000 in principal and $36,487,688 in interest cost). This assumes an interest rate of 4.50%, in the current market the interest rate would be ~4% which would drop the interest cost by ~$4 million to a total debt service cost of $82.2 million. The district will of course watch the market and refinance if rates decrease. Over the years the district has refinanced bonds realizing savings of over $10 million from original interest costs. The second question depends on the bond’s sale method. There is flexibility to get bonds into the resident’s hand with a negotiated offering. Since the underwriter is unknown until the time of the sale residents cannot be directed to that underwriter before the bonds are potential spoken for. Below are the methods that a school can use when selling Bonds: There are 3 methods of sale for school bonds, as shown below. 1. Competitive Sale (public offering) • Sold at a specific date and time • Any firm may bid on the bond offering – most received via internet • Bonds awarded to the lowest conforming bid 2. Negotiated Sale (public offering) • Underwriter pre-selected (may be through an RFP process) • Underwriter offers bonds for sale to investors (includes local citizens) • Pricing date, bond size and maturity amounts flexible • Commonly used for complex financings, story bonds, distressed credits, large issuances, and/or in volatile market conditions 3. Direct or Private Placement (non-public offering) • Bonds are sold directly to private investor or bank (may be through an RFP process) • Typically shorter bond terms (less than 10 years) • Typically smaller bond amounts (less than $10 million) Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions. Pat Velie
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Fred Walker
April 20, 2023
Thank you for the detailed explanation. I will use this data to inform others as well.
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