Election Day: Edwardsburg, Constantine schools proposals

Edwardsburg and Constantine schools have proposals on Tuesday’s ballot in Cass County.

Edwardsburg Public Schools are requesting a renewal of a tax levy. The district is requesting $18 per every $1,000 of taxable valuation. It would not apply to principal residences. 

Full text of the proposal:

EDWARDSBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL - Passed with 78% of the votes being "Yes"

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance.

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Edwardsburg Public Schools, Cass County, Michigan, be increased by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for the year 2022, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2022 is approximately $2,316,618 (this is a renewal of millage that expired with the 2021 tax levy)

ABC57 coverage of the proposal


Voters in Cass and St. Joseph counties will vote on the Constantine Public Schools bond proposal.

Full text of the proposal:

CONSTANTINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BONDING PROPOSAL - Did not pass with 65% of the votes being "No"

Shall Constantine Public Schools, St. Joseph and Cass Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirty-Eight Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($38,800,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to Eastside Elementary School; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; erecting, furnishing, and equipping a concession/restroom building and a bus garage; purchasing school buses; and remodeling, preparing, developing, improving, and equipping playgrounds, athletic facilities, and sites?

The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2022, under current law, is 2.23 mills ($2.23 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a 0.2 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 3.17 mills ($3.17 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 $2,950,209 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $658,635. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is nine (9) 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 $13,805,000. 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

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