May 7 election is for Ludington school district only.

May 7 election is for Ludington school district only.

LUDINGTON — Mason County Clerk Cheryl Kelly is reminding registered voters that the Tuesday, May 7 election is only for voters who live in the Ludington Area School District.

The only proposal on the ballot is a request from the school district asking voters to approve up to 2.32 mills, generating $100,935,000 for 30 years, a 1.71 mills increase in the maximum amount of district taxes currently being paid. The estimated average annual amount of taxes would be 2.58 mills.

Voters should note that while they may be a resident of a township that services the school district, they may not actually live in the school district. For example, portions of the western third of Amber Township are in the LASD, with the remaining portion in the Mason County Central Public Schools district. Voters who are unsure, should contact their township clerk.

If passed the proposed project would fund the following:

• Construction of a new elementary school, housing grades kindergarten through five, on school-owned property near the southwest corner of Jebavy Drive and Bryant Road in Pere Marquette Township (known as the Outcalt property).
• New additions and renovations to the middle school and high school complex. The high school was built in 1957; the middle school was built in 1965. 
• Renovations and upgrades to L.F. Peterson Auditorium and the Donald Baldwin Community Pool, both built in the mid-1970s. 
• Improvements to the transportation center, including a new roof.
• Improvements to existing athletic facilities.
• Safety improvements, including single secure points of entry in all school buildings.
• Aggressive marketing of vacant and unused buildings. The proposal would mean the closures of all the current elementary schools: Foster Elementary, built in 1925; Franklin Elementary, built in 1957; Lakeview Elementary, built in 1964, Pere Marquette Early Childhood Center, built as Pere Marquette Elementary in 1965. 

The bond would be phased, allowing construction in 2019 and 2022.

Monday, April 22 was the last day to register to vote in any manner except in person at the voter’s respective township or city office. Proof of residency must be verified.