Facilities Improvement Bond Proposal
What is the Facilities Improvement Bond Proposal?
Midland Public Schools has placed a $285 million Facilities Improvement Bond Proposal on the May 6, 2025 ballot to address existing school facility needs and plan for the future. If approved by voters, the bond would levy a 3.25 mill increase over the current levy for the next 25 years.
The quick facts
The proposal seeks to provide district-wide improvements in five key areas: Enhancing safety and security; expanding Pre-K offerings; modernizing our educational program spaces; upgrading arts, athletics, and elementary play areas; and addressing aging facilities and infrastructure needs. As a part of these focus areas, the proposal includes taking two aging buildings, Carpenter Pre-Primary Center and Northeast Middle School, offline and constructing a new middle school and a new elementary school.
What's on the ballot?
Here is the official language voters will see on their May 6, 2025 ballot:
MIDLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL Shall Midland Public Schools, Midland County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Two Hundred Eighty-Five Million Dollars ($285,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing, and equipping new school buildings and school support buildings; erecting additions to, remodeling, including security improvements to, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; purchasing school buses; and acquiring, preparing, developing, equipping, and improving playgrounds, play fields, athletic fields and facilities, driveways, parking areas, and sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2025 is 3.90 mills ($3.90 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-five (25) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.81 mills ($3.81 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $64,700,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. (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.) |
Wait... why does it say 3.90 mills? I thought it was a 3.25 mill increase?
Here's how it works: Taxpayers are currently paying 2.95 mills for the 2015 MPS bond proposal. If the Facilities Improvement Bond Proposal is approved by voters, Midland Public Schools will continue to collect the full 2.95 mills for the 2015 bond. Just like a mortgage, interest on the principal amount of the 2015 bond declines over time. As interest declines, the difference will be allocated to the 2025 bond, so the total increase that taxpayer will feel on their tax bill is 3.25 mills, even though the ballot language says 3.90 mills.
To sum it up: 2.95 mills (current) + 3.25 mills (proposed) = 6.20 total mills on your tax bill
What are the focus areas?
In 2022, MPS administration, department leaders, and athletic directors worked with industry experts to conduct a detailed facility assessment to identify the district's long-range facilities needs. When the facilities assessment study was complete, MPS administration presented the findings to the Board of Education to map out a path forward to address those needs.
Following the study, five priorities emerged through a series of workshops, focus panels, and community surveys. They are:
- Enhancing safety and security
- Expanding pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) offerings
- Modernizing educational program spaces
- Upgrading arts, athletics, & elementary play areas
- Addressing aging facilities & infrastructure needs
Click on the buttons below to learn more about each focus area.
- Enhancing Safety & Security
- Expanding Pre-K Offerings
- Modernizing Educational Program Spaces
- Upgrading Arts, Athletics, & Elementary Play Areas
- Addressing Aging Facilities & Infrastructure Needs
Enhancing Safety & Security
Expanding Pre-K Offerings
Modernizing Educational Program Spaces
Upgrading Arts, Athletics, & Elementary Play Areas
Addressing Aging Facilities & Infrastructure Needs
How does this impact me?
Home Market Value (Sale price of home) |
Home Taxable Assessed Value |
Approximate Yearly Cost |
Approximate Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
$100,000 | $50,000 | $162.50 | $13.54 |
$150,000 | $75,000 | $243.75 | $20.31 |
$200,000 | $100,000 | $325.00 | $27.08 |
$300,000 | $150,000 | $487.50 | $40.63 |
How does this compare with other districts?
Midland Public Schools currently has the lowest millage levy among public school districts in Midland County. Even with a new millage rate of 6.2 mills, MPS would still be the third-lowest levying school district in the county.
Current millage rates - Midland County
School District |
Sinking Fund |
Bond Debt | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Bullock Creek | 0.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
Meridian | 0.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
Coleman | 0.00 | 4.45 | 4.45 |
Midland Public Schools | 0.00 | 2.95 | 2.95 |
School District |
Sinking Fund |
Bond Debt | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Chippewa Valley | 0.00 | 8.64 | 8.64 |
Rockford | 0.4734 | 7.00 | 7.4734 |
Portage | 0.4983 | 6.85 | 7.3483 |
West Bloomfield | 1.1608 | 6.15 | 7.3108 |
East Lansing | 0.9956 | 6.30 | 7.2956 |
Grand Blanc | 0.9636 | 6.30 | 7.2636 |
Troy | 0.9606 | 6.10 | 7.0606 |
Novi | 0.4713 | 6.50 | 6.9713 |
Ann Arbor | 2.4103 | 4.10 | 6.5103 |
Brighton | 0.00 | 6.19 | 6.19 |
Gross Pointe | 0.9588 | 3.14 | 4.0988 |
Birmingham | 0.00 | 3.80 | 3.80 |
Bloomfield Hills | 0.6935 | 2.75 | 3.4435 |
Traverse City | 0.00 | 3.10 | 3.10 |
Midland Public Schools | 0.00 | 2.95 | 2.95 |
What's the Breakdown?
$154.1 million |
$66.2 million |
$36.5 million |
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$13.8 million |
Equipment $8.2 million |
$6.2 million |
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Questions can be directed to
communications@midlandps.org
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