Moran Township School District taxpayers could get a slight break in 2009 in what they pay for Gros Cap School, Superintendent William Peltier suggested Monday, November 17, at the district's monthly meeting.The reason is that all major renovations have been completed at the kindergarten-thougheighth grade school on Gros Cap Road, he said, and that the amount of money for such renovations in the future, called a sinking fund, can be reduced from about $135,000 to as little as $85,000 next year.

That means the assessment to maintain the fund could drop from 1.75 mills now to 1.25 mills or even as low as 1 mill, Mr. Peltier said.

The school board, probably in January, would have to approve the reduction, as would voters in May.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed valuation. A reduction of the amount Mr. Peltier is suggesting could mean a tax saving of as much as $50 on a $100,000 house assessed at $50,000.

Renovations and major construction are paid for by all township taxpayers through a millage assessment on property, which feeds the fund.

During the last decade, Gros Cap has drawn upon the fund for what Mr. Peltier estimates at about $1 million in renovations - new furnaces, new flooring, doublepane windows replacing the old single-pane variety, a new septic tank, plumbing upgrades, and asbestos removal.

"Our needs have been taken care of," Mr. Peltier said, "so we don't need as much money. And thank you, public."