Multiple districts — Voters on Tuesday approved ballot requests from Grand Rapids Public Schools and Lowell Area Schools, enabling both districts to continue funding maintenance, security and other ongoing operational needs.
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Voters in Tuesday’s primary election threw their support behind a request from Grand Rapids Public Schools to help fund repairs, renovations, and safety, security and technology needs throughout the district.
The district’s 0.95-mill sinking fund proposal passed overwhelmingly, with 24,794 votes in favor of the measure and 12,256 against, according to unofficial results from the Kent County Clerk’s Office.
A sinking fund is a 10-year property tax levied by districts annually to cover facility repairs and improvements as the need arises, without creating new debt or dipping into the general fund. The new millage is expected to generate around $7 million in its first year.
Superintendent Leadriane Roby told SNN that the approval of the sinking fund speaks volumes about the community’s commitment to GRPS.
“In the seven years that I’ve been in the district, this community has shown up and shown out for our kids, and they have supported every single initiative … that we’ve brought forward,” Roby said. “It just shows, people believe in public education, people believe in GRPS.”
That doesn’t mean the district doesn’t have work to do, Roby said, but the community’s support allows GRPS to undertake that work with the resources it needs.
“It helps with the overall future of our district. We’re strengthening our schools and the neighborhood for generations to come,” Roby said. “This is major to all of us. It’s not something that we take lightly and we do want to thank our community. Thank you for choosing GRPS, thank you for the support and love of our scholars. That means the world.”
Roby said the district is in the process of identifying some potential improvement projects that the new millage dollars might fund. The district will keep the community updated on projects as they come up.
Lowell Area Schools
Voters in Lowell on Tuesday approved the replacement of two expiring millages, allowing the district to continue to collect millions of dollars in annual funding.
“We appreciate the support the Lowell community continues to show its school system,” said Lowell Area Schools Superintendent Nate Fowler.
“This gives the district the opportunity to continue to offer opportunities to support students’ learning in school and as they prepare for careers after high school.”
With a 3,702 to 2,870 vote, according to unofficial results from the Kent County and Ionia County clerks’ offices, voters passed a six-year operating millage levy, which is expected to generate approximately $5.2 million per year, representing about 10% of the district’s $53 million operating budget.
An operating millage funds day-to-day operating costs, including salaries, transportation, utilities and programs, and is the primary source of locally controlled revenue for most Michigan school districts.
The approval allows the district to continue to levy 18 mills on all non-homestead properties, including businesses, rental properties and second homes.
Voters also narrowly approved a 1-mill sinking fund levy by a vote of 3,326 to 3,225, according to unofficial results. This will replace a sinking fund millage passed in 2013 and renewed in 2020, and will raise approximately $1.52 million per year that can be used for ongoing maintenance costs, security, technology and buses.
“We have a rotation in place for replacement of aging roofs and parking lots. We will be able to continue that rotation schedule as well as a rotation of student technology,” Fowler said. “Without the sinking fund, we would have looked at deferring maintenance.”
The district will have future conversations about purchasing school buses with sinking fund dollars, which is now allowed under state law, he said.
Ahead of Election Day, the district hosted opportunities for the community to learn about the proposals, including open office hours with Fowler, which he said provided valuable conversations regarding school funding and rising costs.
“We don’t take it for granted that people voted to support the school system,” Fowler said.
Reporter Erin Albanese contributed to this story.
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