placed a $27.75 million bond proposal on the May 7 election ballot. The proposal represents a .8 mill increase for property owners within the Charlotte Public Schools district for a period of 25 years. The proposal is a decrease of $2.1 million from a similar proposal that voters rejected in November by a mere 49 votes — 4,226 to 4,177.
“The school board decided to go back to the voters with this bond proposal on May 7 because the need to maintain and improve our facilities is so critical to the safety and overall education of our children that we could not wait,” said CPS Board of Education President Caleb Buhs. “Falling just 49 votes shy of passage in November, it was clear that the proposal was close to the community’s wishes. We listened, and made $2 million in reductions from the previous proposal, reducing the millage increase to only .80.”
Included in the proposed bond are capital improvements at every school building within the district, including the addition of an auxiliary gymnasium, new agricultural sciences pavilion, and tennis courts at Charlotte High School, three new classrooms at Washington Elementary School, the elimination of the portable classrooms at Washington and Parkview Elementary, and new classroom at the re-opened Galewood Elementary School.
“The maintenance and improvements included in the proposal address the important safety and educational improvements needed in a 21st century learning environment,” Buhs said. “The infrastructure improvements protect the prior community investments in our school facilities. This proposal will also remove all portables from outside of Washington and Parkview elementary schools.”
The .8 mill increase would represent an increase of $40 per year for a homeowner whose home has a market value of $100,000. If approved, property owners in the district would be assessed 8.39 mills annually, up from 7.59, which is the current millage rate. In comparison, Potterville Public Schools assess 12.63 mills annually; Olivet Community Schools assesses 12.04 mills; Holt Public Schools assesses 10 mills; Bellevue Community Schools assesses 8.95; Eaton Rapids Public Schools assesses 7 mills; and Maple Valley Schools assesses 7 mills.
The CPS Board of Education approved placing the millage proposal on the May ballot after reconvening with its bond-steering committee, which helped put the initial proposal together through a four-month process. The bond steering committee was comprised of CPS staff at all levels in addition to community members, parents and local leaders.
In order to hold the rate steady at 8.39 mills, the district would utilize the Michigan School Loan Revolving Fund, which allows schools to borrow funds to assist with making debt service payments on qualified bonds during the first years of bond issuance. The district would borrow an additional $8.6 million from the fund, and interest from the $27.75 million bond, and $8.6 million loan would be roughly $16.5 million. The bond language confused many voters in the November election when they thought the interest amount was only generated from the Michigan School Loan Revolving Fund loan. According to district officials, CPS currently utilizes the fund and has refunded six times since 2005, saving taxpayers and estimated $17.8 million.
Improvements at Charlotte High School ($13,908,549) include:
• Upgraded classroom technology
• Updated agricultural classrooms
• New Ag Sciences pavilion and equipment
• New auxiliary gym and activity room
• New concessions and restroom building near existing varsity baseball and varsity softball fields
• Eight tennis courts, including lighting, bleachers and parking
• Football stadium concessions renovations
• New band instruments
• Partial replacement of classroom furniture
• New media center furniture
• Operable football/track press box windows
Middle/Upper Elementary School ($3,494,293):
• Upgraded classroom technology
• Safety/security improvements
Washington Elementary School ($2,629,984):
• Three new classrooms
• Upgraded classroom technology
• Partial replacement of classroom furniture
• New media center furniture
• Remove portables
Parkview Elementary School ($1,993,002):
• Upgraded classroom technology
• Partial replacement of classroom furniture
• New media center furniture
• Remove portables
Galewood Elementary School ($4,877,348):
• Five new classrooms
• Safe and secure entry
• Upgraded classroom technology
• New classroom furniture
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades
• Classroom renovations
• Expanded parking
A complete list of all projects included in the bond proposal can be found online at cpsbond2019.com.
