Tri-City area schools bond proposals making it onto the November ballot

Area public schools are once again asking voters in November to consider their bonds that would replace an aging school building and improve security across two districts. After surveying the community for feedback, both Watervliet Public Schools and Hartford Public Schools will have bond proposals on the November 7 ballot.

Hartford’s bond proposal

The Hartford community will have the opportunity to vote on a Hartford Public Schools bond proposal that would provide $22.6M for health, safety, and critical needs identified through recent facility assessments and community input. Under the health improvements, the school wants to replace; water pipes, water heater, and exhaust fans, and make restroom improvements.

Addressing safety concerns, the bond would cover things like improved ADA entries, installation of a hard line phone system, improvements to meet current fire codes, address parking lot issues, installing new lighting, and exterior building improvements.

Finally, the bond will cover some additional operational problems that have been identified. Things like installing improved gas service, replacing the backup boiler, much-needed improvements to the heat pump, upgrading electrical and mechanical controls, and replacing the roof of the recreational building.

The bond is expected to have a zero increase in millage. This will provide additional funding for many exciting things in the district without raising taxes. It is the most exciting piece of information for the community because it would allow Hartford Public Schools to make meaningful safety changes, refurbish the schools to meet the ever-changing educational demands of the 21st century, and do necessary facility and maintenance updates that are long overdue.

Interested in learning more about the bond? Join Superintendent, Bradley Geesaman on a tour of the high school and middle school on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The tour begins at 6:30 p.m. at the high school auditorium.

Hartford bond language as it appears on the ballot:

PROPOSAL SECTION

Local School District

HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL

Shall Hartford Public Schools, Van Buren County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Two Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($22,600,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings and facilities; acquiring and installing instructional technology in school buildings; and preparing, developing, and improving sites?

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2024, under current law, is 3.00 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy.

The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.84 mills ($3.84 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $6,966,174 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $10,462,308.

The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is twenty-nine (29) years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7.75 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $13,910,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0.

(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

Watervliet’s Bond Proposal

Earlier this year the Watervliet Public Schools Board of Education approved an order calling for a $29.9 million bond election that was held on May 2. However, that proposal did not pass. So once again the proposed projects will be presented to voters on the November 7 ballot.

The bond will cover new safety and security measures which include; a new secure building entrance at the Middle School, updates to the door and hardware for each classroom, new security doors, and a redesign in replacement of the parking lot at the high school campus to improve safety and traffic flow.

As discussed in the last bond proposal, there are much-needed improvements to the aging facilities within the school district. If passed, the bond will include restroom remodeling for improving ADA access, mechanical upgrades such as replacing the old water heater, and building a new classroom space for the W.A.Y. program. Also, the bond will include resurfacing of the track and the construction of a new concession stand, restrooms, and storage building for the sports complex.

To address educational programming and the learning environment, this proposal plans for the addition of STEM classrooms for hands-on learning at the elementary schools, the addition of STEM / Robotics classrooms for hands-on learning at the Middle and High Schools, science lab improvements, furniture replacement, and a new addition that would include a cafeteria, an auxiliary gym, and weight room.

The May and November bond proposals are very similar for Watervliet. The main difference is the May ballot measure would have increased the millage rate by 1.2 mills if passed, while the bond on the November ballot if passed, would have increased the millage rate by 1.7 mills.

To learn more, area residents are invited to join Watervliet Public Schools superintendent, Ric Seager, at the final Town Hall Presentation to gather more information about the facilities project bond proposal. The event will be on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6:00 p.m. at Watervliet High School.

Watervliet bond language as it appears on the ballot:

PROPOSAL SECTION

Local School District

WATERVLIET PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL

Shall Watervliet Public Schools, Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Nine Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($29,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

$29.9 MILLION BOND The District would sell bonds totaling no more than $29.9 million for erecting, furnishing, and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, furnishing, and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; erecting, furnishing, and equipping school buildings; and preparing, developing, improving, and equipping athletic fields and facilities, driveways, parking areas, and sites?

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2023, under current law, is 1.70 mills ($1.70 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 1.20 mills net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 4.45 mills ($4.45 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $11,302,277 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $16,120,304.

The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 31 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $19,460,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0.

(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

In conclusion

These bond proposals are the main source of funding for many K-12 school capital projects. Other important funding sources that are utilized come from private donations or grants but those are never enough to tackle large capital improvements like both of the proposals are suggesting. Voting is November 7 for each district, and they hope to see all registered voters at the polls.