Copyright M Live Michigan
SAGINAW TWP, MI — For the second time in two years, Saginaw Township voters rejected a multimillion-dollar school district bond proposal aimed at updating aging facilities. During a Tuesday, Nov. 4, election, residents voted against the $169.2 million Saginaw Township Community Schools bond proposal, 7,691 to 4,735 votes, Saginaw County clerk records stated. The proposal represented a price tag reduction compared to the $242.9 million bond proposal that fell short by a vote of 8,671 to 2,540 in May 2023. The campaigns for both bond issues involved sometimes-heated debate that often centered on the financial burden the measures would place on taxpayers during uncertain economic times. Advocates argued the benefits of updated facilities — buildings erected more than a half-century ago — would mark an investment that would pay off both for a township featuring Saginaw County’s second-largest population and a school district that educates about 4,500 students. Superintendent Jamie Kraatz was hired to lead the district five months after the May 2023 bond election loss. She previously served as director of learning, curriculum and assessment at Saginaw Township’s schools. “While the bond did not pass, we remain committed to providing safe, modern and engaging learning environments for all of our students, Kraatz said after Tuesday’s loss. ”It’s important for our community to understand that our needs remain. In the months ahead, we’ll review the results of this election and begin discussing next steps." Kraatz said she was thankful for the support of community members who advocated for the proposal. For weeks leading up to Tuesday, district officials engaged in an aggressive campaign to counter the pushback from some of the same opponents who pursued the 2023 bond defeat. “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” signs peppered community properties. Social media-based group pages launched for both advocacy and opposition served as forums for debate between neighbors disputing the merits and math powering the proposal. Prominent local leaders endorsed or opposed. Among the most active public figures opposing the measure was Thomas Roy, a township business owner also known as president of the Saginaw Area Fireworks nonprofit. Roy said the school bond’s defeat was a victory for residents “living paycheck to paycheck.” “This was nothing against the kids or against the schools,” Roy said of the opposition campaign. “People just can’t afford it. People have to look out for themselves.” Roy said the “no” campaign likely was aided by the economic uncertainty generated by the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has threatened access to resources including food assistance programs for financially-struggling individuals. If the Saginaw Township school bond proposal had passed Tuesday, the measure would have invested the largest share of costs into updating Heritage High, which was set to receive $67.6 million in updates, district records show. White Pine Middle School was to receive $34.2 million; Sherwood Elementary School, $18.6 million; Arrowwood Elementary School, $13.2 million; Weiss Elementary School, $11.5 million; Hemmeter Elementary School, $9.7 million; Westdale Elementary School, $9.3 million; and Mackinaw High School, $5.3 million. The proposed renovations to several of those facilities included infrastructure changes meant to provide security against modern threats including school shooters, officials said. If it had passed, the bond also would have included renovations or additions to facilities such as air conditioning and heating systems, bathrooms and locker rooms, classroom technology, and athletics playing fields. The ballot language stated the proposal would have amounted to a 5.21-mill tax annually on average between 2026 and 2052, district records state. The proposed tax would have launched in 2026 at a rate of 3.95 mills. That meant a homeowner living in a house with a $50,000 taxable value would have paid $160.50 to support the bond next year. But district officials pointed out the life of the bond would have begun as earlier-approved township school bond taxes declined and then expired in three years. District records showed the rate for the now-failed bond tax would have reached a height of 5.35 mills annually from 2028-40, which would have resulted in a $267.50 tax bill yearly for a homeowner living in a house with a $50,000 taxable value. By comparison, that same homeowner will pay $125 this year for existing school bond debt that will expire by 2028. Results for the Tuesday election were uploaded to the county clerk’s website shortly after 11:30 p.m. The Saginaw Township vote represented one of two Saginaw County-based school district bond proposals that failed to win voter support Tuesday. Birch Run Area Schools officials also fell short again in convincing voters to approve a multimillion-dollar bond proposal. Voters there rejected a $17.8 million bond proposal for the Birch Run-based school district, 1,253 to 1,089 votes. Election officials consider the initial election results as an unofficial tally. Official results will follow the certification process from state and county election officials.
