By Bruce Rolfe
The Galesburg-Augusta School District will be asking voters to consider a similar bond proposal that was defeated last November by over 100 votes in a May 5 election.
All Kalamazoo County registered voters may also vote on a county-wide Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency Special Education Millage Renewal and Restoration Proposal.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
G-A Superintendent Dr. Lindsey Newton said the scope of the work that was included in the 2025 bond that was defeated, are the same in the May 5 proposal because “they are all needs that aren’t going away.”
The November 2025 bond proposal was defeated 836-731 (53.35%-46.65%).
The May 5 bond proposal is an $11,240,000 proposal for improvements at all three of the district’s school buildings and for a new transportation facility.
The 2026 bond improvement projects include:
G-A Primary School
• Replacement of select areas of roofing.
• Chiller replacement for more efficient air conditioning throughout the building.
• Replace building temperature control systems for better control of mechanical systems and monitoring energy use.
• Emergency lighting upgrades.
G-A Middle School
• Replacement of select areas of roofing.
• Chiller replacement for more efficient air conditioning throughout the building.
Galesburg-Augusta High School
• Replacement of select areas of roofing.
• Replacement of main entry doors, frames, and hardware for better building security.
• Cooling tower replacement for more efficient air conditioning.
Transportation Facility
• Construct new transportation facility to address functional issues of the current facility.
• New parking lots and drives to support the new facility.
According to the school district’s website, when calculating the bond impact for taxpayers, a $200,000 home (with a $100,000 taxable value) the debt levy of 6.4 mills will remain the same as it is now at approximately $640 per year.
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2026 is 1.00 mill for a 0.00 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy.
According to the bond proposal language, the maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is 16 years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.00 mills.
The school district is labeling this as a zero mill increase. The millage rate will be replacing expiring debts, so residents wouldn’t see a net increase in their tax rate.
Instead of the levy dropping off, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy said the proposal authorizes new debts and the debts would be paid off with new property taxes. The property taxes would continue to be levied until the debts are paid.
In the county-wide proposal, voters in Kalamazoo County will be asked whether to renew the existing property tax that funds special education services for students with disabilities in all local public schools.
The proposal is a renewal of the property tax levy last approved by voters in 2021 that supports mandated special education programs. If approved by voters, the millage would continue for six years at the originally authorized 1.5-mill rate.
The Galesburg-Augusta School District will be asking voters to consider a similar bond proposal that was defeated last November by over 100 votes in a May 5 election.
All Kalamazoo County registered voters may also vote on a county-wide Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency Special Education Millage Renewal and Restoration Proposal.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
G-A Superintendent Dr. Lindsey Newton said the scope of the work that was included in the 2025 bond that was defeated, are the same in the May 5 proposal because “they are all needs that aren’t going away.”
The November 2025 bond proposal was defeated 836-731 (53.35%-46.65%).
The May 5 bond proposal is an $11,240,000 proposal for improvements at all three of the district’s school buildings and for a new transportation facility.
The 2026 bond improvement projects include:
G-A Primary School
• Replacement of select areas of roofing.
• Chiller replacement for more efficient air conditioning throughout the building.
• Replace building temperature control systems for better control of mechanical systems and monitoring energy use.
• Emergency lighting upgrades.
G-A Middle School
• Replacement of select areas of roofing.
• Chiller replacement for more efficient air conditioning throughout the building.
Galesburg-Augusta High School
• Replacement of select areas of roofing.
• Replacement of main entry doors, frames, and hardware for better building security.
• Cooling tower replacement for more efficient air conditioning.
Transportation Facility
• Construct new transportation facility to address functional issues of the current facility.
• New parking lots and drives to support the new facility.
According to the school district’s website, when calculating the bond impact for taxpayers, a $200,000 home (with a $100,000 taxable value) the debt levy of 6.4 mills will remain the same as it is now at approximately $640 per year.
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2026 is 1.00 mill for a 0.00 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy.
According to the bond proposal language, the maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is 16 years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.00 mills.
The school district is labeling this as a zero mill increase. The millage rate will be replacing expiring debts, so residents wouldn’t see a net increase in their tax rate.
Instead of the levy dropping off, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy said the proposal authorizes new debts and the debts would be paid off with new property taxes. The property taxes would continue to be levied until the debts are paid.
In the county-wide proposal, voters in Kalamazoo County will be asked whether to renew the existing property tax that funds special education services for students with disabilities in all local public schools.
The proposal is a renewal of the property tax levy last approved by voters in 2021 that supports mandated special education programs. If approved by voters, the millage would continue for six years at the originally authorized 1.5-mill rate.
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