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Still, the 38% of local requests rejected by voters would have amounted to another $364 million for the school districts that sought the funding.
Such tax requests — primarily used to fund building repairs or upgrades — have been failing at higher rates in recent years amid increased focus on the economy, complicated nature of school finance and shifting attitudes about public education since the pandemic.
Don Wotruba, executive director of the Michigan Association of School Boards, said he was “pretty encouraged” that voters approved so many tax requests last week despite a heavy candidate focus on the economy and inflation.
Among the big proposals approved by voters: $188.7 million for infrastructure at L’Anse Creuse Public School District in Macomb County, $121 million for construction and remodeling in Wayne County’s Crestwood district and $48.8 million for Baldwin Community District in Newaygo.
Voters also approved smaller bond requests in Otsego, Antrim and St. Joseph counties.
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Whether a community ultimately supports a bond request usually comes down to the cost of the proposal, how the money will be spent and how the value is communicated to voters, Wotruba said.
Voters in Republican-leaning areas have been more likely to reject school bonds, and last week was no exception: In Republican areas, 56.5% of bond proposals passed, compared to 83.3% in Democratic areas.
If at first you don’t succeed…
At Gwinn Area Community Schools, half an hour south of Marquette, voters rejected a $30.9 million bond request. It wasn’t the first time officials had asked: 38% of voters backed a similar bond in 2023, followed by 46% this year.
The district will likely try again in May, said Superintendent Sara Croney, who told Bridge she was buoyed by growing support from local voters and continuing dialogue between the school and community members.
“We’re not going to focus on those that are going to vote ‘no,’” Croney said. “That is waste(d) time. We’re going to focus on getting more of the voters just out to vote.”
It’s not unusual for school districts to bring failed bond issues back before voters.
In May, local voters rejected a bond for Pentwater Public Schools by five votes. In November, a majority of voters approved a $7.59 million bond.
That’s a “big community win,” said Superintendent Craig Barter, who told Bridge he thinks the proposal passed, in part, because voters were actively sharing positive information about the proposal.
His advice to other school districts looking to get projects funded by voters?
“Don’t ask for anything that’s over the top, stay within your means, and be transparent with the information.”