Ontonagon votes Tuesday

By JAN TUCKER

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Ontonagon — Ontonagon Area School District voters will head for the polls Tuesday to vote on millage to update the 50-year-old systems at the school.

The district is asking voters to approve a sinking fund of 1.3 mills for 10 years. Superintendent Jim Bobula noted the school was built in 1967 and most of the equipment is that age.

The school has identified needed upgrades including repairs in the heating system, gas boiler, security, student technology, handicap accessibility and bathrooms. Officials noted the bathroom fixtures are 50 years old and need replacement due to water loss and other breakdowns. The revenue generated by the millage, by state law, can only be used for building improvements and technology, nothing else.

Officials explained that, if approved, voters would still pay less in school taxes than they have in the past 20 years. A school bond of 2.15 mils that has been on the tax rolls for the past 20 years expired in May of this year.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.