Voters to decide fate of $1.6B in new school debt

Michiganders will have a chance Nov. 4 to decide whether to incur more public debt, with residents of 27 school districts deciding the fate of $1.6 billion worth of new bonds, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Each district that seeks permission to borrow says it will spend some of the funds on remodeling one or more buildings, usually those used for classrooms.

Beyond that, the purposes vary. Instructional technology is the most commonly mentioned item, with 22 districts saying they plan to purchase equipment, remodel buildings so they may use it, or both.

Athletic fields and playgrounds are the second- and third-most commonly cited purpose, with 15 and 14 districts, respectively, saying they will spend some funds on them.

During the May 2025 school elections, two of every three districts that asked to borrow more money said they would spend some of it on security. But less than one-third of the districts holding elections next week (nine) cite security improvements.

Michigan law does not require districts to provide transportation to students, but they do as a matter of course. Of those districts asking to take on new debt, seven cite a desire to purchase new buses or improve facilities that house them.

One district (Ionia Public Schools) says it wants to improve arts facilities as part of an $84.5 million proposal. The Adrian Public Schools district had planned to ask money for a recreational facility. But it decided to wait until May 2026 as it considers what will happen with the impending closing of nearby Sienna Heights University.

Five districts are each seeking to take on more than $100 million in debt:

• $272 million: Lake Orion Community Schools
• $169 million: Saginaw Township Community Schools
• $126 million: Jackson Public Schools
• $125 million: Wayne-Westland Community Schools
• $110 million: Byron Center Public Schools.

The upcoming election is the third opportunity school districts have this year to ask local residents to increase their tax burden. Previous elections occurred on May 5 and Aug. 5.

Five districts are using the Nov. 4 vote as a second chance to gain approval for previously failed requests.

The Bronson Community School District tried but failed in May to gain approval for $32.3 million in bonds; it is back with a request for $29.9 million.

The Parchment School District, having been rebuffed in May in a bid for $36.4 million, will present a request for $32.4 million.

Voters in the Upper Peninsula district of Gwin Area Community Schools will face a second request for bonds. In an unusual move, the board decided to increase rather than decrease its request. In May voters rejected a proposal to issue $30.9 million in bonds, and the new request is for $48.1 million. The November proposal adds a new elementary school to the list of desired projects.

Lamphere Public Schools, in Oakland County, is back with a much-reduced request. Voters who rejected an $85 million request in May will now consider the fate of a $47.4 million proposal.

The Reed Area Public Schools District has pared back its $88.1 million request from May to $75.5 million. Among the projects it dropped: purchasing new school buses.