KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Voters across Kalamazoo County used Tuesday, May 3, to weigh in on a number bond issues and millage proposals that were on the ballot.
The Kalamazoo County Law Enforcement and Safety millage was first approved in 1980 and has been renewed every six years since then. In Tuesday’s May 3 special elections, voters overwhelmingly approved it. It’s renewal set to raise $13.6 million and continue through 2027 with no expected tax increases. The millage renewal will help the county to continue to improve operations and make improvements as well as maintain functions for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Kalamazoo County Circuit Court, 8th District Court, the Animal Services and Enforcement Department, and the Office of Community Corrections.
The Kalamazoo Public Schools Bonding proposal also won approval from voters. The more than $197 million dollar 25-year-bond is set to fund school building and site improvements, upgrades and enhancements to technology, all the way to the big project, a new El Sol Elementary School. Overall tax rate for property owners in the district will not increase since older debts were paid off.
And the answer was yes on a nearly $40 million dollar bond for Comstock Public Schools. It was a nearly even split on both sides, but the yays have it, leaning in favor of the $39,430,000 bond which will go towards numerous school building improvements to include replacing old roofing, lighting, flooring and ceiling tiles. Other improvements include renovating science rooms and updating to modern science lab equipment and many more, with a STEM Academy in the works.
Gull Lake Community Schools asked the public to approve it’s sinking fund millage renewal proposal of $706,000, and they did just that. The renewal is not expected to increase the existing millage rate.
The Vicksburg Community Schools Operating Millage Proposal garnered approval from voters. The more than 2 million dollar millage will fund current operations and restore a millage lost from the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963, with the rate being renewed by just over 18 mills for five years with another increase of 0.5 mills for six years, and imposed long enough to restore the reduction.
Two proposals were on the docket for Climax-Scotts Community Schools to restore a millage lost in reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963. Voters approved the Operating Millage Renewal Proposal totaling $338,892 dollars with a continued rate of just over 17.5 mills. But when the school district asked voters to approve a second operating millage proposal totaling over $7,800 which would have increase taxes by 2 mills and make up for a loss, they said no.
Information was gathered from completed unofficial results according to the Kalamazoo County Clerk’s Office.
Clerk / Register of Deeds Meredith Place said that she was happy to see that voter participation had increased by about 18% from last year at this time.
