Voters reject Sturgis Public Schools $98.4 million bond proposal
Voters rejected the $98.475 million proposal with 54% voting no (1,501 votes) and 46% voting yes (1,277 votes). A total of 2,778 votes were cast on the proposal.
Superintendent Arthur Ebert says the district will now need to reevaluate how — or whether — many of the projects it had planned to pursue will move forward.
“All of the projects contained within the bond proposal will either need to find an alternative funding source, be reduced in scope with an alternative funding source, or not be completed.”
The closely watched Sturgis Public Schools bond proposal has failed, according to final unofficial results from Tuesday’s special election.
Voters rejected the $98.475 million proposal with 54% voting no (1,501 votes) and 46% voting yes (1,277 votes). A total of 2,778 votes were cast on the proposal.
The proposal would have authorized the district to borrow nearly $100 million through bond sales for facility upgrades and new construction projects across the district. District officials said the proposal was structured to maintain the current debt millage rate at 7 mills, resulting in no net millage increase for taxpayers if approved.
The proposal generated significant discussion throughout the community in the months leading up to Election Day, with residents debating both the scope of the proposed projects and the district’s long-term financial plans.
“While this is not the result that we were hoping for, we are grateful for the rich dialogue that we had throughout the bond proposal process,” Superintendent Arthur Ebert said in a statement.
“We are further thankful for today’s turnout with 2,778 individuals from across Sturgis and the surrounding townships weighing in at the voting booth. Our goal was to design a community-led proposal and ensure that everyone had the information necessary to make an informed decision. Today’s turnout shows that we were successful at engaging the community.”
According to unofficial election results, 1,656 votes were cast on Election Day itself, while 1,122 were submitted through absentee ballots. Election Day voters rejected the proposal 914-742, while absentee voters opposed it 587-535.
Had voters approved the proposal, the district planned to pursue a wide range of projects over several years. Major projects included construction of a new aquatic center near Sturgis High School, renovations to the existing Community Pool into a multipurpose athletic training facility, districtwide safety and accessibility upgrades, classroom renovations, roof and boiler replacements, athletic facility improvements, and transportation infrastructure work. Watershed Voice previously reported the full list of improvements here.
Ebert said the district will now need to reevaluate how — or whether — many of these projects will move forward.
“All of the projects contained within the bond proposal will either need to find an alternative funding source, be reduced in scope with an alternative funding source, or not be completed,” Ebert said.
He added the district’s most realistic alternatives include pursuing a revised bond proposal, revising the district’s sinking fund, using operational dollars, or seeking grant funding.
“Absent a revised bond proposal, it is unlikely that all of the projects will be able to be completed,” Ebert said. “Building and site sinking funds are capped at 3 mills at 10 years, operational funds are prioritized for teaching, learning and personnel, and grants don’t typically fully fund large-scale projects.”
Ebert did not outline an immediate direction the district plans to pursue.
Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
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