May 5 Election results: Voters weigh in on school bonds, a trash ordinance, and commissioner terms

Election Day has wrapped up and votes have been tallied across Southwest Michigan. Here are the full and final unofficial results from local proposals on the May 5 ballot.

St. Joseph County

In St. Joseph County, voters weighed in on two school-related proposals.

The first was the closely watched Sturgis Public Schools bond proposal, which asked voters to authorize $98.4 million in borrowing for district upgrades and facility improvements. The proposal failed with 45.97% of the vote in favor (1,277 votes) and 54.03% opposed (1,501 votes). 

Watershed Voice spoke with the Sturgis superintendent and provided more extensive coverage of the proposal results here. 

The second item on the ballot was the Colon Community Schools sinking fund millage renewal. The proposal sought to renew a levy of 1.2906 mills for eight years, from 2027 through 2034, to fund building repairs, security improvements, technology upgrades and related infrastructure needs. The proposal passed with 61.91% of the vote in favor (525 votes) and 38.09% opposed (323 votes).

Kalamazoo County

Kalamazoo County voters considered several school funding proposals, along with the high-profile Portage single-hauler trash ordinance proposal, which generated significant public debate ahead of Election Day.

The proposal would require waste haulers to register and publish fee schedules while prohibiting the city from creating an exclusive single-hauler trash contract. The measure failed with 44.73% of the vote in favor (5,381 votes) and 55.27% opposed (6,649 votes). 

Also on the ballot was the Comstock Public Schools bond proposal, which would authorize $23.7 million in borrowing for building upgrades and districtwide improvements. The proposal failed with 47.31% of the vote in favor (1,159 votes) and 52.69% opposed (1,291 votes). 

The Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools bond proposal, which would authorize $11.24 million in borrowing for building renovations and district investments, passed with 52.28% of the vote in favor (964 votes) and 47.72% opposed (880 votes). 

Voters also considered the Vicksburg Community Schools bond proposal, which would authorize $64.1 million for school facilities, a transportation facility and other district upgrades. The proposal passed with 55.50% of the vote in favor (1,631 votes) and 44.50% opposed (1,308 votes). 

The KRESA special education renewal and restoration proposal, which would renew a levy of 1.4862 mills for six years beginning in 2027 and restore an additional 0.0138 mills, bringing the total levy to 1.5 mills for special education services, passed with 66.01% of the vote in favor (24,972 votes) and 33.99% opposed (12,857 votes).

Branch County

In Branch County, voters considered three school funding proposals.

The Coldwater Community Schools bond proposal, which would authorize $64 million for additions and renovations at Coldwater High School, a bus garage and other district improvements, failed with 35.97% of the vote in favor (496 votes) and 64.03% opposed (883 votes). 

The Quincy Community Schools bond proposal, which would authorize $60 million for building additions, a support facility and infrastructure upgrades, failed with 22.37% of the vote in favor (49 votes) and 77.63% opposed (170 votes). 

The Reading Community Schools sinking fund millage replacement proposal sought to authorize up to 1.8309 mills for five years, from 2026 through 2030, to replace an expiring sinking fund millage. Revenue would be used for school building construction and repairs, security improvements, technology upgrades and other district needs. The proposal passed with 55.56% of the vote in favor (15 votes) and 44.44% opposed (12 votes).

Calhoun County

In Calhoun County, voters considered a proposal involving term lengths for local elected officials.

The Battle Creek mayor and City Commission term limits proposal would amend the city charter to establish four-year terms for the mayor and city commissioners. The proposal passed with 53.41% of the vote in favor (1,729 votes) and 46.59% opposed (1,508 votes).

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.