Voters in the Coldwater and Quincy school districts went to the polls on Tuesday, May 5, and rejected bond issues to replace, renovate, and upgrade aging school buildings.
Coldwater Community Schools Vote:
Voters were asked to approve a $64 million, 30-year bond that would increase taxes by 1.5 mills.
Coldwater Projects
The bond would modernize Coldwater High School, a 70-year-old building last upgraded in 1994.
Major improvements included:
This is the third bond attempt since 2020, after two failed bonds, most recently in 2022.
Quincy Community Schools Vote:
Voters were asked to approve a 30-year, $60 million bond, which would increase local tax bills by 5.3 mills.
Quincy Projects:
Once the current debt expires, the millage would have decreased to about 4.55 mills.
The plan prioritizes reusing existing buildings to manage costs.
Major projects:
District officials noted this was the largest proposal in Branch County, driven by Quincy’s low taxable value and extensive repair needs.
A third-party assessment identified $47 million in basic repairs needed over the next decade and $8.7 million in immediate needs.
Contact Don Reid, dReid@USATodayCo.Com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Voters reject school bond millages in Quincy, Coldwater
Reporting by Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
