The attention of voters might be fixed on the candidates vying for mayor and city commission next Tuesday, but Traverse City residents will also face several other important decisions on November 5, including on the future of the area's roads and schools.

Here's a look at three key proposals rounding out the local ballot.

Proposal 1: Road Millage
Grand Traverse County has approximately 1,200 miles of road – only 20 percent of which have a rated condition of “good.” To address the region's rapidly deteriorating infrastructure, the Grand Traverse County Road Commission is proposing a one-mil increase for the next three years ($4.4 million annually) for road, street, highway and bridge repairs, with funding to be dispersed to Grand Traverse County, Traverse City, Kingsley and Fife Lake. A person with a $100,000 taxable home could expect to pay $100 a year if the millage passes.

“We don't receive enough funding to maintain our assets right now,” says Grand Traverse County Road Commission Manager Jim Cook. “State funding has remained the same since 1997, while fuel and material costs have increased three to five times as much. The killer for us is unlike southern counties, we have to pay $3 million a year for plowing and winter maintenance...but we don't receive any additional funding from the state (for that).”

City commission candidates have weighed in on the millage proposal, with two describing themselves as undecided (Gary Howe, Tim Werner), three against (Jan Warren, Jody Bergman, Pat McGuire) and two in support (John Reid, Ross Richardson). Several commissioners cited concerns about past leadership issues at the road commission and the county's troubled relationship with the city as a cause of their opposition or indecision – concerns Cook acknowledges, but says his organization is working hard to address.

“Since I came on board (a year ago), we've reorganized and changed how the road commission works both overall and with our partners,” says Cook. “The truth is...there's room for improvement, but that's a priority for us. The city is going to benefit as much as the county if voters approve the millage, because the city needs to fix its roads as well.”

The road commission has published a specific list of projects it'd like to tackle in 2014 if the millage passes, including stretches of Zimmerman Road, Long Lake Road, South Airport Road, Supply Road and Hobbs Highway. While some residents and commission candidates have advocated for holding off on a millage to see if state funding increases, Cook counters that legislative gridlock and historical trends make that an unlikely bet.

“Any difference is going to hinge on the people of Grand Traverse County deciding to do something,” says Cook. “I don't see anyone running up here from Lansing to fix our roads.”

Proposals 2&3: TCAPS Main Bond & Central High School Auditorium
After last year's proposed $100 million/.8-mil tax increase for Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) was defeated at the polls by a 60-40 margin, the school board regrouped to analyze what might better appeal to the public. Their solution: Separate a proposed reconstruction of the TC Central High School auditorium from the district's main bond proposal, and lower the asking price of the latter.

On November 5, voters will decide on a $35.2 million, .20 mil TCAPS bond proposal. The mil increase would cover projects including bus replacement, safety and security upgrades, technology improvements and the reconstruction of several deteriorating elementary schools.

Separately, voters will also consider a $12.9 million, .09 mil for the reconstruction of Central High School's auditorium, which TCAPS describes as “at the end of its useful life.” The project calls for overhauling the building, installing sound/lighting equipment, increasing seating to 670 and adding an orchestra pit for live music.

TCAPS currently values its community assets at approximately $356 million, including 19 operating school buildings, nine support buildings and 100 buses.