Election Day: Sturgis sidewalk and Vicksburg school proposals

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Mich. -- There are three proposals on the ballot in St. Joseph County, depending on your precinct. The city of Sturgis has a property tax renewal for street and sidewalk improvements, Constantine Schools have a bond proposal and Vicksburg Community Schools have an operating millage 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?

Full text of the proposal:

City of Sturgis Street and Sidewalk Improvement Renewal Millage - Passed with 65% votes being "Yes"

Should the City of Sturgis levy a renewal three (3) mill property tax for a period of ten (10) years commencing in calendar year 2023 to be used exclusively for street and sidewalk reconstruction, repair, and improvement projects within the City as approved by the Sturgis City Commission? It is estimated that this renewal proposal would produce revenue of $746,316.68 during the first calendar year.

Full text of the proposal:

Vicksburg Community Schools Operating Millage Proposal - Passed

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 full revenue per pupil foundation allowance and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Vicksburg Community Schools, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties, Michigan, be renewed by 18.0902 mills ($18.0902 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2023 to 2027, inclusive, and also be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 6 years, 2022 to 2027, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2022 is approximately $2,085,000 (this millage is to renew millage that will expire with the 2022 levy and to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?