ESCANABA — The Escanaba School Board continued discussion about placing a millage request before voters a second time at its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday.

Escanaba Superintendent Coby Fletcher continued discussion on the possibility of placing the sinking fund millage on the November ballot. A school sinking fund is supported by a millage on all real property and is considered as a “pay as you go” method for funding building maintenance and infrastructure projects.

The proposal failed when it was brought before voters in May.

Board members, along with Fletcher, discussed changing the terms of the proposal, including reducing the amount of years taxpayers would contribute and the amount of mills requested.

In May, the ballot language was presented as 2.2 mills ($2.20 per $1,000 taxable value). An average household in the district has a $44,000 taxable value, and would have made an average payment per household of $96.80 per year.

The millage would have spanned over five years. If it had been approved, the district would have collected approximately $1,209,339 in the first year.

Trustee Cathy Wilson proposed reducing the millage rate to 1.8 mills ($1.80 per $1,000 taxable value) as a way to appeal more to voters.

School Board President Dan Flynn, Secretary Bob Chailier, and Vice-President Kathy Jensen noted the board needs to take another approach and get more information to voters. Chaillier suggested sending out flyers in the mail to reach more voters, adding the voter turnout for the May election was a low 15 percent.

“I got some phone calls from some senior citizens on fixed income and they were still left feeling they weren’t informed properly,” said Chaillier. “I guess I want the board to know that if we decide to go with the sinking fund I would still very comfortable doing exactly what we did before at 2.2 (mills) for five years…because I feel like everything we had in there (the list) that committee worked hard on and evaluated everything and all our needs and I think those are legitimate needs.”

Jensen agreed, noting information needs to reach more people so they know what they are voting for.