Lakeview superintendent outlines $44.1 million no-tax-increase bond for Nov. 4 election

Lakeview Schools Superintendent Carl Paulson told the St. Clair Shores City Council on Sept. 15 that the district plans to seek $44,100,000 in a November bond to fund capital projects across all seven campuses.

"44,100,000 is what we're seeking," Paulson said, adding the work would last roughly six years and would be structured as a "no tax levy increase" similar to recent bonds. He listed priorities including replacement of classroom heating and cooling units, roofs at several locations, parking-lot work, technology infrastructure upgrades (cabling, servers and end-user device replacement) and renovation of Jefferson tennis courts, a community-use facility.

Paulson said the district has a history of what he described as "promises made, promises kept" for prior bond projects, noted the district's audits and explained the bond's financial modeling (current mills 6.15, projected carrying at 6.5 mills in long-term scenarios). He invited the public to a community meeting next Monday at 6:30 p.m. on the Wheat building campus for a presentation and questions.

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the bond pays for projects the district cannot otherwise budget; Paulson explained that major capital projects are commonly funded through bonds and gave an example of an unplanned $400,000 HVAC replacement that was covered from district savings. He also acknowledged resident concerns about light spill from school facilities and said staff would follow up on parking-lot lighting complaints raised to council.

The presentation was informational; no council vote on the bond measure occurred at this meeting.