Rockford Public Schools operates 18 facilities with over 1.2 million square feet of space, on approximately 395 acres of sites. In 2016, the district began development of a 10-year master plan to assist with meeting the needs of our students and community. To accommodate our student population in an innovative learning environment, voters in the Rockford Public School District will be asked to consider two proposals at the May 7, 2019 Regular Election. The two proposals will address facility needs throughout the district and provide funds to promote collaborative learning and innovation in the classroom.
If approved, the proposals would generate the following revenue over the course of 10 years:
-
- Bond Proposal (2.0 mills): $174 million
- Sinking Fund Proposal (0.5 mill): $11 million
These funds can be generated while providing an expected net tax rate decrease of one mill to Rockford Public Schools property taxpayers:
| CURRENT debt retirement millage | 8.5 mills |
| July 2019 decrease in debt millage | -3.5 mills |
| Bond proposal levy, if approved | +2.0 mills |
| Sinking fund levy, if approved | +0.5 mill |
| PROPOSED debt/sinking fund millage rate if both are approved
(Expected net tax rate decrease of 1.0 mill to taxpayers) |
7.5 mills |
Sample tax impact
For the purpose of calculating a property tax adjustment, one mill is equal to one dollar per $1,000 of the taxable value of a home. If both proposals are approved, taxpayers would see an expected net tax rate decrease of one mill.
| Home Value | Taxable Value | Calculation for
1.0 mill net decrease |
| $200,000 | $100,000 | 100 x 1.0 = $100 |
| $300,000 | $150,000 | 150 x 1.0 = $150 |
| $400,000 | $200,000 | 200 x 1.0 = $200 |
Feel free to attend any of the informational meetings scheduled at our schools or the district-wide informational meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m. at North Rockford Middle School. A full schedule of informational meetings, additional details about the proposals, and ballot language can be found on our website at www.rockfordschools.org.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 616.863.6557 or mshibler@rockfordschools.org.
Thank you,
Dr. Michael Shibler
Superintendent of Schools
