Introduction: Our community will have the opportunity to vote on a bond proposal on the August 5, 2025 election ballot. If approved, it will provide $26,800,000 for building & site improvements to address identified and ongoing capital projects based on facility assessments. If approved by voters, the 2025 bond millage is expected to have a ZERO TAX RATE INCREASE from the current tax year.
1. What is a bond proposal and how can bond funds be spent?
A bond proposal is how a public school district asks its community whether to authorize borrowing money to pay for capital expenditures. Voter-approved bond funds can be spent on additions, remodeling, site improvements, athletic facilities, playgrounds, furnishings, equipment, and other capital needs. Funds raised through the sale of bonds cannot be used for operational expenses such as employee salaries and benefits, school supplies, and textbooks. Bond funds must be kept separate from operating funds and must be audited by an independent auditing firm.
2. What are the key projects in this bond proposal?
This bond proposal would address the highest priority projects as determined by the district with a focus on projects that keep our students safe, warm and dry, including:
Bath Elementary School:
• Replace drinking fountains to comply with Filter First Law
• Install intruder lockdown system
• Replacement of roofing
• Exterior wall masonry repairs/replacement
• New lockers
• New window shades
• Replace chiller
• Replace clock system
• New smart lab furniture & equipment
• New playground equipment
Bath Middle School:
• Replace drinking fountains to comply with Filter First Law
• Install intruder lockdown system
• Replacement of roofing
• New window shades
• New backstage curtain in auditorium
• Replace chiller
• Replace clock system
• New smart lab furniture & equipment
Bath High School:
• New football field entry with concessions, toilets, and storage
• Replace drinking fountains to comply with Filter First Law
• Install intruder lockdown system
• Replace public announcement system
• Replace clock system
• Replacement of roofing
• Add toilet rooms to learning commons
• New window shades
• Replace boilers
• Replace water heater
• New smart lab furniture & equipment
• Site work: Parking lot paving and drives and drainage for football field
Bath Transportation Building:
• Construction of a new transportation building
• Three (3) new buses
• Demolition of old building and site work
3. Why a bond proposal now?
The 2025 bond proposal is planned to address the currently identified issues over the next two years. While the 2017 bond addressed many of the district’s needs, there are still core infrastructure system needs, such as intruder alarm systems, water fountain replacements to comply with drinking water standards, roofing, and heating and cooling systems, that have exceeded their expected lifecycles – replacing these systems would extend the useful life of our school buildings, comply with student safety standards, and improve our building sites.
4. How would the bond proposal impact my property taxes?
Bath Community Schools currently levies 7.00 mills for the debt tax rate. If the August 2025 bond proposal is approved by voters, the debt tax rate is expected to remain the same at 7.00 mills, resulting in a ZERO TAX RATE INCREASE from the current tax year.
5. If the August 5, 2025 bond proposal passes, how would it impact the projected debt levy in the future?
Below is a graph depicting both the district’s current debt millage as well as the debt millage if the August 2025 bond proposal is approved.
6. When would the millage for this proposal first be levied, if approved?
The millage for this proposal, if approved, would first be levied on the December 1, 2025 property tax bill.
7. Would the approval of the bond proposal have any impact on our current operational budget?
While funding from this bond proposal is independent of the district’s general fund operating budget, the bond would likely have a positive impact on the district’s general fund by allowing the district to reallocate operating funds that are currently being spent on aging facilities, mechanical systems, and technology. The operational savings generated from new and cost-efficient facilities would be redirected to student programs and resources.
8. Are businesses and second homes (non-homestead properties) and primary homes (homestead properties) treated the same regarding bond debt millage?
Yes, businesses and second homes (non-homestead) and primary homes (homestead) are treated the same regarding bond debt millage.
9. What oversights would hold the district accountable?
If approved by voters, the district’s Architect/Engineer would design the proposed projects and prepare construction documents and specifications for the projects, and there would be a State-level review of the plans. Once the projects are designed, the district’s Construction Manager would assemble bid packages and publicly advertise to solicit competitive bids for all work. This is required in the Revised School Code. This process ensures that the district selects the lowest responsible bidder. All qualified contractors would have an opportunity to attend a pre-bid meeting to obtain additional information and project clarification. All qualified contractors will have the opportunity to participate in the competitive bid process. Additionally, the finances of the bond project are required by state law to be audited.
10. At what point would the State of Michigan, as well as the local fire and police departments, provide input into the bond projects?
Each project would be required to be submitted to both the State’s Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) and the Bureau of Fire Services (BFS) for both plan review and permitting. These agencies would review the projects to ensure they comply with applicable codes, before any building permits are issued. Building plans and specifications must be signed and sealed by a Licensed Architect/Professional Engineer before submission. As of March 21, 2019, Michigan law requires school districts to consult on the plans for the construction or major renovation regarding school safety issues with the law enforcement agency that is the first responder for that school building. This consultation would happen if the bond proposal is approved by voters, before construction documents are finalized prior to project commencement.
11. Are owners of property in the school district eligible to vote if they do not reside in the school district?
Owners of property are only eligible to vote if they reside in the school district boundaries. To be eligible to register to vote, you must be:
A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
A United States citizen
At least 18 years of age (when you vote)
12. If I rent a home, can I vote?
Yes. If you rent a home, you can still vote as long as you are a registered voter in the city or township in which you live, and you live within the district boundaries.
13. How is an absentee voter ballot obtained?
Registered voters must complete and submit the application to receive their absentee voter ballot. To vote by mail, fill out the application and sign it, and then return it to your local clerk. If you registered to vote after absentee voter ballot applications were mailed, applications may be obtained online at Michigan.gov/vote. Absentee voter ballots are available from June 26 through August 5, 2025.
14. What are the key dates leading up to the Tuesday, August 5, 2025 election day?
Registering to vote:
o The last day for voters to register by mail/online is July 21, 2025.
o Voters may register in-person through August 5, 2025 (election day) with the required documentation.
Absentee Voting:
o Absentee voter ballots are available from June 26 until August 5, 2025.
o Contact your local clerk with questions
15. What is the ballot language?
BATH COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
BOND PROPOSAL
Shall Bath Community Schools, Clinton and Shiawassee Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Six Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($26,800,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of:
remodeling, including security and STEM equipment for, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; erecting an athletic support building and a transportation building; purchasing school buses; and equipping, preparing, developing, and improving playgrounds, athletic fields and facilities, parking areas, and sites?
The following is for informational purposes only:
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2025, under current law, is 3.00 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is seventeen (17) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 4.28 mills ($4.28 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).
The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $1,486,670 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $440,360. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 9 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.
The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $11,985,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0.
(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
16. In the ballot language, it states that the estimated millage that will be levied in 2025 to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is 3.0 mills, what does this mean?
The proposed bonds are estimated to require 3.0 mills of the total 2025 debt levy. However, the total debt levy is projected to remain the same 7.00 mills for a net no-mill increase compared to the 2024 levy. This is possible since the debt levy for the currently existing debt is projected to decrease by 3.0 mills with the 2025 levy.
17. In the ballot language it states that the maximum number of years any series of bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of refunding, is not more than nine (9) years, what does this mean?
The school district plans to issue bonds with all bond principal and interest paid off within nine (9) years.
Questions?
If you have further questions, please contact, Superintendent, Dr. Chris Hodges at