KALAMAZOO, MI -- Seven school districts, two intermediate school districts, two cities and one library district in the Kalamazoo region have ballot questions or candidates on the May 6 election.

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will appear on ballot in all nine school districts based in Kalamazoo County -- Kalamazoo, Portage, Gull Lake, Vicksburg, Comstock, Parchment, Galesburg-Augusta, Schoolcraft and Climax-Scotts.

That request seeks renewal of a 1.5-mill school "enhancement" tax levied since 2005. The revenues are divided between the nine districts, which use the money to supplement their operating budgets.

Meanwhile, Vicksburg, South Haven, Gobles, Marcellus and White Pigeon are all seeking tax increases to pay for facility improvements; Otsego and Plainwell are seeking to renew their 18-mill nonhomestead tax, and the St. Joseph Intermediate School District is requesting a Headlee override on its 2.75-mill levy for special education.

The Kalamazoo Public Library is seeking to renew a 1.18-mill operating tax for 20 years. That tax was originally approved in 1995 and expires this year.

In addition, Bangor is holding its City Council election in May, and Galesburg is filling a vacancy on its City Council.

Details on ballot requests and candidates are below.

Bangor city

What:

Bangor City Council election.

Candidates:

Harold Bator and Lucas Koenig are running unopposed for two, three-year council seats, and Jim Tanner is running unopposed to fill a vacancy that runs until May 2016.

Galesburg city

What: Galesburg City Council election to fill a two-year vacancy.

Candidate: Marian Doxey is running

unopposed..

Gobles Public Schools

What: Request for $7.5 million in bond issues.

Purpose: U

pgrading school technology, new school buses and building improvements. The district would sell $4.7 million in beginning in 2014, and $1,385,000 in bonds beginning in 2019 and than again in 20124.

Cost to taxpayers:

District's debt levy would increase from 7 to 9 mills for the next 20 years.

The 2-mill increase would cost $100 for a house with a taxable value of $50,000 and an assessed value of $100,000.

For more information: Click here for information on district website.

Kalamazoo Public Library

What:

Request to renew 1.18 mill operating tax.

Purpose:

Voters approved to increase the library's tax levy by 1.19 mills in 1995, and that money was used for new construction and extensive renovation of library facilities. That tax has been reduced to 1.18 mills by the Headlee Amendment, and the library is seeking to renew it for another 20 years.

Cost to taxpayers:

Since this is a renewal, taxes would not increase. The average homeowner pays $70 a year for the tax, based on an average taxable home value of $58,821.

For more information

:

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Kalamazoo RESA

What:

Request to renew 1.5-mill educational "enhancement" tax for three years.

Purpose: Revenues go to the nine school districts based in Kalamazoo County -- Kalamazoo, Portage, Gull Lake, Vicksburg, Comstock, Parchment, Galesburg-Augusta, Schoolcraft and Climax-Scotts. Each district gets about $321 per student to supplement their operating budget.

Cost to taxpayers:

Since this is a renewal, taxes would not increase.

The average homeowner pays $88 a year for the tax, based on an average taxable home value of $58,821.

For more information:

Click here for mlive.com story on the KRESA tax.

Marcellus Community Schools

What:

Request for $12.9 million bond issue.

Purpose: Facility upgrades and repairs, including remodeling the cafeterias and media centers at both the middle/high school and the elementary, and building a new stage and auxiliary gym at the secondary building.

Cost to taxpayers:

Bond issue would increase taxes by 2.53 mills. The tax increase would be about $127 a year on a home with a taxable value of $50,000 and an assessed value of $100,000.

For more information:

Go online at www.marcellus.org.

Otsego Public Schools

What:

Request to renew 18-mill nonhomestead tax for 10 years

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Purpose:

Revenues are part of district's operating revenues. In Otsego, the tax generates about $1.8 million a year.

Cost to taxpayers:

Owner-occupied homes are exempt from nonhomestead tax, which is levied on second homes and commercial property.

Plainwell Community Schools

What:

Request to renew 18-mill nonhomestead tax for 12 years.

Purpose:

Revenues are part of district's operating revenues. In Plainwell, the tax generates almost $2 million a year.

Cost to taxpayers:

Owner-occupied homes are exempt from nonhomestead tax, which is levied on second homes and commercial property.

St. Joseph ISD

What:

Request for a Headlee Amendment override on the ISD's special-education tax

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Purpose: The Headlee Amendment rolls back millage rates when property values increase faster than the inflation rate. The law means that the ISD's 2.75-mill tax for special education has been reduced by 0.2946 mill. Approval of this request would allow the St. Joseph ISD to levy the full 2.75 mills for the next 20 years. It would generate about $633,500 in 2014.

Cost to taxpayers:

If approved, taxes would raise by about $15 a year on a home with a taxable value of $50,000 and an assessed value of $100,000.

South Haven Public Schools

What:

Request for $36.7 million bond issue.

Purpose:

An addition to South Haven High School and upgrade other facilities, including the football stadium. Also would be used to improve technology and building security, plus purchase of school buses.

Cost to taxpayers:

Bonds would be paid off in 30 years. The increase for the first year will be 1.15 mills, on a house with a taxable value of $100,000 and an assessed value of $200,000. Over the life of the bond, taxes would increase an average of 2.22 mills, or about $222 on a house with a taxable value of $100,000 and an assessed value of $200,000.

For more information:

Look online at

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Vicksburg Community Schools

What: Request for $15.4 million bond issue. Purpose: Facility repairs and upgrades, technology and security improvements and new school buses. Cost to taxpayers: Bond would be paid off in 11 years and taxes would increase an average of 1.5 mill, or about $84 on a home with a taxable value of $56,000 and an assessed value of $112,000, which is about average for the district. For more information: Click here for mlive.com story on ballot proposal.



White Pigeon Community Schools

What:

Request for $1.675 million bond issue.

Purpose:

Technology and security upgrades, new school buses and facility improvements.

Cost to taxpayers:

Bond would be paid off in five years and taxes would increase an average of 1 mill, or about $50 on a house with a taxable value of $50,000 and an assessed value of $100,000.

For more information:

Look online at

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