GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Voters in Grand Rapids approved a bonding proposal for the Grand Rapids Public School (GRPS) District Tuesday night.
The bonding proposal, which aimed to borrow $305 million for the district, promised no increase in property taxes for residents.
The bonding proposal passed by a huge margin of over 10,000 votes, with a total of 22,160 votes reported, according to unofficial results.
GRPS said the millage rate of 3.85 mills, levied in 2023, is estimated to cover the cost of the debt without raising the millage in the future.
The district says the $305 million borrowed through the bond will be used for the purposes of:
- Purchasing, erecting, completing, remodeling, and equipping or re-equipping school buildings, including library buildings, auditoriums, structures, athletic fields, playgrounds, playfields and other facilities, and parts of or additions to those facilities, and acquiring, preparing, developing and improving sites, or parts of or additions to sites, for school buildings;
- Furnishing or refurnishing school buildings and parts of or additions to those facilities; and
- Acquiring, installing, and equipping or re-equipping school buildings and parts of or additions to school buildings for technology, technology infrastructure and safety and security improvements.
Superintendent Leadriane Roby said she was grateful to see the community's support.
"What we are asking for, this is about equity and access for all of the children of the City of Grand Rapids, and it's important to say, this is the work that we want to do," she said. "If we want to have a strong community, it's important to have a strong school community."
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