For the past decade, less than 29% of registered voters in Ottawa County have shown up at the May election polls and made the decision just how much their fellow homeowners should dole out in taxes each year to the schools.
Some voters may be suprised to learn this is happening, and that they also have the opportunity—and the power—to weigh in on the amount they so kindly fork over to the schools every year. Often these opportunities happen during May Special Elections in the form of a millage or a bond. Leading up to a bond vote, there may be a flyer or two in the mail spelling out all of the building enhancements the local public school has its eyes on—all for the low, low price of a “zero tax-rate increase” for taxpayers.
The use of the word “zero” could lead voters to think these bonds won’t cost them anything. And even if they’re not fooled by that term, they may think, “What’s a few hundred or thousand dollars here and there if the bond is for the kids?” It’s worth noting that those kids could inherit this bond, a.k.a. loan, someday and that debt could keep them from affording a house of their own.
And let’s be clear. Bonds are for buildings and building enhancements—think not only facility repairs but additions, like sports complexes and the like.
Bond money is not allowed to be used on staff, curriculum, or classroom support.
Also, a bond is no respecter of persons. Not only will parents of the public school kids who benefit be charged, but also voters with absolutely no connection to the school—people with no kids, grown kids, homeschool kids, or Christian school kids—and who may think the bond doesn’t affect them. Oh, but it does. Just because voters don’t have a student in the public school, doesn’t mean they’re exempt from carrying an equal burden of the public-school tax.
Many Michigan voters have grown tired from the strain of property taxes, which in part pays for bonds and millages. With President Trump and the DOGE team cracking down on wasteful spending, it seems there has been a ripple effect which played out with bond and millage voters this last May election. More voters appeared to question how much of the bond proposals were needs and how much were wants, and whether the added wants were worth the added tax burden. With 10 school bond and millage proposals on the ballot across Ottawa County, plus a county-wide proposal for the Ottawa Area Intermediate School district, 3 of the 10 proposals failed.
Ottawa County isn’t the only county seeing the growing trend of bonds failing. School districts across the state asked their communities for more tax dollars, some looking to borrow as much as $285 million for building enhancements, which tended to include not only repairs but nonessential add-ons such as a new field house, artificial turf, a new stadium entrance, etc.
The news media took note of how many bonds and millages failed this election cycle, as seen in the headlines below:
Some mid-Michigan communities see success, others failure with millage proposals on May 6 ballots
Michigan voters reject half of school bond requests. Blame the economy?
All 3 Kalamazoo-area tax proposals fail in May 6 election
All millages defeated May 6 in Monroe County
Michigan schools proposed bonds to build, remodel, replace. Voters rejected over half of them.
Voters reject four funding requests in Allegan, Kalamazoo, Van Buren counties
Nearly 68% of voters turn down $285 million Midland Schools bond proposal
Though voter turnout for Ottawa County was a percent higher than last year for the May election—21.56% versus 20.59%—that is still a low number of voters determining the school tax fate of every voter who didn’t make it to the polls.
The lowest turnout in Ottawa County happened in Fruitport. Residents there had before them an $82 million school bond. How many decided what their Fruitport neighbors will pay? 16.42% of the community, which for Fruitport was 621 voters—319 voted no, and 302 voted yes.
For Allendale, 27.06% of the voters decided on an $88 million bond. At stake was whether the average homeowner should continue paying over $1000 (and climbing) per year for an extra decade, or pay under $300 per year (once the 2017 bond is paid off). The bond failed, saving home-owning taxpayers thousands—whether they wanted the savings or not.
The election outcome in Allendale affected the property tax bill of every home-owning voter, and it was decided by 27.06% of the voters.
Sparta, a smaller township, had an 18.73% turnout for an operating millage which failed—55 people voted no, and 39 voted yes.
Did the voters who stayed home this last election not feel oppressed by tax burdens and therefore allowed others make tax decisions for them? Or is it that voters aren’t hearing about the elections that happen throughout the year?
When asked how voters are informed of elections, Katie Bard, the Ottawa County Elections Supervisor, said that Michigan Election Law outlines a few explicit forms of notification that county and local election official must produce.
There are three notices that must appear in a newspaper of general circulation:
1. Notice of Logic and Accuracy Testing
2. Notice of Registration
3. Notice of Election
Bard said that local clerks also must provide information on their websites and have a physical posting at their office. Additionally, the Ottawa County Clerks Office has upcoming election information on the county website as well as on social media.
What does that mean for the voter who doesn’t follow traditional news sources or regularly visit the county site?
The announcement of an election might not cross your path. Voters who don’t subscribe to a local newspaper or Ottawa County social media, don’t watch local news, don’t visit a local clerk’s office or website, and aren’t on the public school’s mailing list, might not hear about an election.
Nevertheless, voters who have concerns about their own and their fellow neighbors’ taxes and want to have a say in the amount they’re paying/shelling out to the schools, can choose to be vigilant and seek out election information.
In Michigan, all federal, state, county, city, township, village, and school elections are restricted to four dates each year: the last Tuesday in February, or the Tuesday after the first Monday in either May, August, or November. However, there are provisions for these exceptions:
• cities that currently conduct a September primary and wish to continue to do so;
• villages that wish to fill their elective offices in September in odd-numbered years;
• special elections called under the State Legislature; and
• school districts, intermediate school districts and community college districts that wish to present a millage proposal, bond proposal or a proposal to borrow funds on a date other than one of the four “fixed” election dates. (Certain limitations apply.)
If an election is happening in your community, it affects you. Whether it be voting on people who will represent you, bonds and millages that will cost you, or proposals that will govern you—you, your family, and your neighbors will be affected.
If you don’t own property?
You probably have a landlord, and if the landowner has to pay more, you probably will have to pay more.
If you don’t have kids? Don’t use the library? Don’t plan to need a fireman or police officer?
Even so. You live here, so you pay the taxes of the community.
Want to pay more tax? Want to pay less tax? Use your voice at the polls.
Krista Yetzke is a native of Ottawa County. A jeep-driving, guitar-playing wife, mom, and everyday adventurer, Krista was raised on the love of Jesus, the great outdoors, the arts, the value of frugality, and the beauty of food as medicine.
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