Voters in Hazel Park schools reject $150 million school bond request Tuesday

Voters in Hazel Park schools rejected a $150 million school improvement bond request Tuesday, one of a handful of tax proposals seeking to fund school building repairs, technology and buy buses.

The measure lost 33.6% to 66.4% in unofficial election results in Oakland County.

Hazel Park Superintendent Amy Kruppe said the 30-year, 5.65-mill property tax would have built a new school, remodel other buildings, improved athletic grounds, bought instructional technology and improved sites.

"We have outdated HVAC systems, and parts take months to get," Kruppe said.

At Huron Valley Schools, which are in both Oakland and Livingston counties, a $361.3 million school bond was narrowly approved 52.5% to 47.5%. The bond will build, remodel, buy instructional equipment for school buildings, improve athletic fields and playgrounds, and buy buses. The 20-year bond would begin in 2026 at 1.92 mills.

A ballot measure by Walled Lake Consolidated Schools for $250.8 million bond was approved by voters 61% to 39%. The bond will remodel buildings and athletic facilities, build a replacement elementary school and athletic field building, and pay for instructional technology and buses. The 30-year bond would start at 1.26 mills and average 1.51 mills.

Goodrich Area Schools proposed a proposed nine-year, 1 mill increase from 2024-32 to create a sinking fund for school improvements. The cost in 2024 would be $645,000, officials said.

MACOMB COUNTY

Clintondale school district had a 10-year, 3-mill sinking fund millage on the ballot, to repair buildings and buy real estate from 2024 to 2033. The tax would generate $1.16 million in 2024.

L’Anse Creuse Public Schools was asking for a $330 million bond to remodel schools, build new schools, improve athletic grounds, install new technology and buy school buses. The 25-year bond would run 3.67 mills to retire, school officials say.

New Haven Community Schools had a $43.66 million school bond proposal to remodel buildings, add technology, erect a bus garage and add an athletics concessions building at the middle school. It would also improve playgrounds and athletic facilities.

WAYNE COUNTY

Two requests from Trenton Public Schools were approved by voters Tuesday.

The district's sinking fund proposal for 2 mills over 10 years to make improvements and repairs to the district’s facilities passed 59.5% to 40.5%. It will generate $1.37 million in calendar year 2024.

Voters also approved an operating millage renewal for the 18-mill non-homestead property tax for nine years, from 2025-33. The measure passed 67.1% to 32.9%. It will generate $3.33 million in its first year in calendar year 2025.

Lincoln Park Public Schools asked for a sinking fund renewal of 1.4013 mills property tax for 10 years to finance school building repairs and buying instructional technology.

The Wayne County district had a second proposal on the ballot: it asked voters to approve an 30-year bond for $58 million to modernize and remodel school buildings, make additions to buildings and athletic facilities, and buy instructional technology. An estimated millage of 2.31 mills is needed to pay for the bonds in the first year for an estimated total of 7.5 mills for the 2025 debt levy.

South Redford Schools had an operating millage restoration proposal for non-homestead property tax of 20.6138 mills for 10 years, from 2024-33. If approved, the levy can’t be any higher than 18 mills under state law. It would generate $4.6 million in 2024.

jchambers@detroitnews.com