More Than Half Of School Bonding Proposals Fail

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/06/2025) Voters turned down more local school funding proposals than the average May election cycle tonight, with more than half of all bonding requests failing.

Among the 95 school-related questions MIRS collected results for tonight, 68 (71.5 percent) passed while 27 (28.4 percent) failed. Results of another four ballot questions were not available tonight. Typically, local school ballot proposals – mileages, bonds, sinking funds -- pass at an 82 percent clip in May with 69 percent of bonding proposals winning

Of the 44 total bond issues tracked by MIRS on the election spreadsheet there were 24, or 54.5%, that failed. The failed bonds made up $1.2 billion worth of the $2.34 billion in total funding up for a vote. The largest failed bond was for Midland Public Schools worth $285 million. 

The one non-school bond issue asking for $3 million for a firehouse in Kinross Township (Chippewa County) also failed.

The 20 school bonds (45.4 percent) that passed were worth nearly $870 million.

There was one school bond from Oceana that would not have a result returned until Wednesday morning.

While 66 percent, or 90, of all the local ballot proposals passed, they were still only worth less than 47 percent, or $1.1 billion, of the entire pot.

The bond failures drove the night with the 26 percent, 36 total, failures being worth a whopping 52 percent, or $1.23 billion, of the local ballot proposals.

The eight outstanding local ballot proposals would not significantly change the percentages, with the largest being worth $13.9 million. 

None of the 39 mileage renewals or restorations for schools lost. Sinking funds were 11 for 14 with a few still outstanding. Police and public safety went four for six with a few still oustanding.

The biggest winner of the night was the millage renewals, which saw one failure for a parks and recreation project in Kinross Township Chippewa County. 

Millage increases also got smashed with two passages for fire departments. There were eight that failed, including an ask to expand a museum in Muskegon County worth $1.9 million. 

Road questions went three for five with a few outstanding. Fire questions went six for nine.