BROOKLYN, MI – Columbia School District voters have approved a sinking fund that will raise $5.2 million toward refreshing the district’s technology for students and help replace school building roofs.

The .65-mill sinking fund, good through 2031, was approved by voters in the Tuesday, Nov. 2 election by a 951-815 margin.

Related: Election results: Voters pick Jackson mayor and city council members, decide school millages

Overall, the new millage results in a “net-zero” impact to taxpayers, Columbia School District Superintendent Pam Campbell previously stated, after the district refinanced the debt on its 2013 bonds last spring.

The district expects to levy 2.15 mills on the $30.6 million, 30-year millage this December, Campbell said, after levying 2.8 mills in 2020 and 2021. The difference – .65 mills – means taxpayers would be paying the same amount of taxes toward the district’s capital and technology projects as a result of the refinancing.

“The net-zero tax increase is very important to taxpayers, especially at this time when a lot of prices are going up,” Campbell said. “We’re just really excited about the opportunity that it gives us to enhance the educational learning environment for our students.”

The sinking fund will help Columbia continue to refresh student laptops, with another 500 laptops expected to need replacement in the next two to three years, Campbell said.

A few years later, another 1,000 or so laptops will need to be replaced after they were purchased last year with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. The district is also looking to replace a number of the classroom smartboards that have aged out at the lower elementary school, Campbell said.

“This is an opportunity to benefit students for years to come,” Campbell said. “First of all, student technology is very important in the education arena now, so it’ll give us an opportunity to purchase new smart boards for our elementary students, and update our Chromebooks. In addition, just the roofing replacements will make sure that our students stay warm and dry and safe.”

The district needs to replace a number of roofs on its buildings, with some last replaced around 1999 when Columbia made additions to buildings, Campbell said. Along with the roofs, the district will need to replace a number of HVAC units atop those buildings with more efficient units, she said.

Other potential sinking fund purchases could including fixing some parking lots in need of repair and renovating some “accordion” walls that need more permanent replacements conducive to learning, Campbell said.

There were other school proposals on Tuesday’s ballot. Here are the results of those.

$20 million Leslie Public Schools bond proposal voted down

Leslie Public Schools’ bid to approve a $20-million bond proposal to help upgrade its facilities and add air conditioning to its buildings was voted down by a 646-540 margin Tuesday.

The bond proposal asked voters to levy a 3-mill net increase – or $3 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation. For a home with a market value of $100,000, the increase would have equated to about $150 per year or $12.50 per month.

In Jackson County, voters favored the bond proposal 74-60.

The bond would have helped Leslie Public Schools construct new secure entries to control visitor traffic, upgrade mechanical systems and add air conditioning at each of the district’s buildings. A similar proposal was turned down by voters in August 2020 by just 19 votes.

Non-homestead tax renewal passes for North Adams-Jerome schools

North Adams-Jerome Public Schools voters renewed the district’s ability to collect all its state student foundation allowance by passing an 18-mill non-homestead operating millage renewal.

The non-homestead millage proposal was approved with 447 voting in favor and 129 against.

The millage, which is required of all Michigan school districts, is for five years and equates to approximately $440,000 in 2022, which is about 20% of the district’s annual operating budget, Superintendent Wes Johnson said.

The tax applies only to non-homestead, industrial, commercial and non-qualified agricultural property. It does not include primary residences.

Marshall Public Schools’ $45.8M bond voted down

A $45.8-million bond proposal that would’ve helped build a new elementary school in Albion and remodel other school buildings was voted down Tuesday.

Voters in Calhoun and Jackson counties voted the bond by a 3,294-1,664 margin.

The proposal asked voters to levy a millage of 3 mills for the proposed bonds in 2022, or $3 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation.

In addition to the proposed new elementary school building and renovations to several other buildings, the bond proposal asked voters to approve funding for installing new instructional technology equipment and improving athletic fields, facilities and playgrounds.

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