Dear Fellow TCAPS Parent,

 

I am writing you first as a parent, and second as a representative of the region's business community, to urge you to vote and to vote YES on the Traverse City Area Public Schools 2014 millage renewal that will be on the November 4th ballot.  By now you should have seen a lot of information about the millage specifics, such as that it is a renewal of an existing millage and not a new tax, and that it is not even paid by most taxpayers.  Those who do pay would see no change to their current tax rate, which is the same as it was in 1999.  If you haven't seen the details of the millage renewal, please check out the following link: http://www.tcaps.net/Information/2014NonHomesteadOperatingMillage/tabid/3496/Default.aspx.    

 

TCAPS is not allowed to urge you to vote YES.  I am, and I am authorized by the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, which endorsed the millage renewal, to ask for your support.  TCAPS is not allowed to tell you that if the millage renewal fails, it will not be able to operate.  It doesn't take an economist, however, to figure out that losing 36 percent of its income would bring a quick end to TCAPS' ability to prosecute its mission.  If it still operated (doubtful), it would be heartbreaking to see what would be lost for our kids.

 

Some of you may have legitimate reasons to be down on TCAPS; I don't know each of your situations.  Voting no on this millage, however, is the proverbial "throwing the baby (literally) out with the bathwater."  This is simply not the issue on which to make your stand if you are trying to change things at the district.  There are dozens of other ways to be involved and make your voice heard.  I promise to personally share your grievances with the Superintendent if you choose to share them in response to this appeal - just please vote yes November 4th.

 

Finally, if you vote no on this millage renewal, it is the same as voting no on our community.  It will effectively close the pipeline of talent and young families considering relocation to our region and cripple our employers, our institutions, and our family businesses.  It will place our children at a competitive disadvantage for jobs, college enrollment, and other benefits that come with an adequately funded school district.  It will be a negative statement to the world regarding Traverse City and the communities around it that will resonate for decades.  This isn't a matter of "slapping some paint" on aging facilities.  This is operating money; if it goes away, everything goes away.  Please don't let that happen.

 

My wife and I have raised our children from kindergarten through high school in TCAPS, and we still have a daughter there (hopefully you can see her in Central's production of "The Music Man" in November).  We could not be happier with the education they've received or the opportunities they've had to be involved in school activities.  TCAPS is a community treasure and needs our support as parents.  Together, we all have nearly 10,000 children in TCAPS - let's not abandon them now when they need us the most.

 

Please be sure to vote on November 4th, and please vote YES to renew TCAPS' operating millage.  We have the ability by our own numbers as parents to pass this issue if we exercise our right and privilege as voters.

 

Thanks so much!

 

Douglas R. Luciani

President & CEO

Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce

Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation

 [email protected]| 231.995-7108