On May 6, 2025, residents of Midland, Michigan, will cast their votes on a $285 million Facilities Improvement Bond Proposal for Midland Public Schools (MPS), a district serving 7,425 students with a projected 2.2% enrollment increase over the next few years (Midland Public Schools). The bond aims to address critical needs in aging infrastructure, student safety, and educational facilities. As the election approaches, the community is deeply engaged, weighing compelling arguments for and against the proposal based on verified data.
The bond targets five key areas: enhancing safety and security, expanding pre-kindergarten programs, modernizing learning spaces, upgrading arts and athletic facilities, and replacing outdated buildings (Midland Public Schools). Specific projects include constructing a new elementary school in northern Midland to address overcrowding, building a new middle school to replace the 75-year-old Northeast Middle School, decommissioning the 99-year-old Carpenter Pre-Primary Center, expanding Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, and upgrading Central Auditorium, Midland Community Stadium, playgrounds, and safety systems like impact-resistant glass and surveillance (Midland Public Schools).
Financially, the bond would increase the property tax millage rate from 2.95 to 6.2 mills, a net increase of 3.25 mills. For a homeowner with a $200,000 home (taxable value $100,000), this translates to an additional $325 per year ($3.25 per $1,000 of taxable value) (Midland Public Schools). With interest, the total cost could reach $487 million over 34 years, assuming a 1.65% annual economic growth rate and 4.75% interest rate, though MPS projects a 25-year repayment timeline (WNEM).
Supporters emphasize the bond’s necessity for safe, modern schools. MPS reports that many facilities are over 50 years old, with rising maintenance costs, and the new elementary school is critical to alleviate overcrowding, as over 600 pre-K-5 students live north of US-10 (Midland Public Schools). Pre-K expansion aligns with state initiatives to improve kindergarten readiness, while CTE upgrades prepare students for careers (Midland Public Schools). Economically, MPS argues that improved schools boost property values and attract families, noting that the 6.2-mill rate remains among the lowest in Midland County (Midland Public Schools). The district has held community sessions and published a detailed project list online for transparency, and state law ensures bond funds cannot be used for salaries or routine maintenance (Midland Public Schools; X post, @MidlandPS, Apr 2025).
Opponents, led by the Committee for Midland Students and Taxpayers, argue the bond is too expensive and includes non-essential projects. They highlight the $487 million total cost with interest, questioning the long-term debt for a district that could prioritize repairs over new buildings (WNEM; Committee for Midland Students and Taxpayers). Critics note the tax increase burdens fixed-income residents and renters, with a $200,000 homeowner facing an extra $325 annually (WNEM). Some challenge MPS’s enrollment projections, citing Michigan’s declining birth rates and industrial base, and argue funds should focus on academic improvements, such as math and reading scores, rather than facilities (Committee for Midland Students and Taxpayers; Reddit). Concerns also arise about the May election timing, with opponents suggesting it was chosen to limit turnout, though MPS explains the date was set by the Michigan Department of Treasury’s approval timeline (Committee for Midland Students and Taxpayers; Midland Public Schools).
The debate mirrors statewide trends, as Michigan school bond passage rates dropped from 75% between 2018 and 2020 to just over 50% in 2024, with higher rejections in Republican-leaning counties like Midland (Bridge Michigan). MPS has actively engaged the community through public sessions and online resources, while opposition voices are prominent on platforms like Facebook (“Vote No MPS Bond”) and X (Midland Public Schools; X post, @Bon12R, Apr 2025).
As Midland voters prepare to decide, they face a critical choice: approve the bond to invest in safer, modern schools or reject it, citing concerns over taxes and project necessity. The outcome will shape the future of MPS and the community for decades to come (Midland Public Schools).
