May 6, 2025 bond proposal

In Michigan, everyday school operations—like teacher salaries, classroom supplies, and student programs—are funded through a statewide per-pupil funding system. This money comes from state and the local 18 mill property tax (non-homestead).

However, this funding is not enough to  cover major building repairs, facility upgrades, or construction projects. That’s why school districts must ask local voters to consider a bond. It allows schools to borrow money for big projects like replacing roofs, updating heating and cooling systems, major electrical issues, improving safety, or wastewater systems.

By law, bond funds can only be used for these types of capital improvements—not for daily operations or staff salaries. This is essential because it’s the only way schools can raise the funds needed to maintain safe, modern learning environments. 

MASON CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL

Shall Mason Consolidated Schools, Monroe County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Sixteen Million Dollars ($16,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefore, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

remodeling, including safety and security improvements to, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; developing and improving sites?

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2025 is 2.69 mills ($2.69 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.49 mills ($2.49 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). 

The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

(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.) 

MCS took a comprehensive approach to gathering community feedback on facility planning. An online survey were conducted to obtain feedback about addressing facility needs. A postcard with the survey link was mailed on September 9, 2024 to every household in the Mason Consolidated Schools community. Additionally, the survey link was emailed to parents and families. 

In addition, school district and community social media platforms were used to promote survey participation and the folks were encouraged in the district newsletter to attend the meeting on November 6, 2024 to hear results.

The district actively applies for and uses grants whenever possible, and we’re grateful for the support they provide. However, most grants are designed for very specific purposes—such as programs, equipment, or smaller-scale projects. They typically don’t cover the kinds of large, essential upgrades we’re facing, like roof replacements, boilers, electrical infrastructure, or wastewater improvements. That’s where bond funding becomes so important—it’s the only reliable, long-term solution for addressing these bigger facility needs.

Some grants also require the district to match funds, which means we have to be especially thoughtful about how we commit resources to ensure we remain fiscally responsible.

We understand that some community members believe there may be larger grants available to help with facility needs, and we appreciate that perspective. Please know that we are consistently exploring every opportunity available to us. In fact, we’ve secured grants to support transportation, new water fountains and bottle-filling stations, literacy efforts, professional learning, mental health services, academic support, and school safety—just to name a few. These grants are incredibly valuable and make a real difference in our schools.

That said, they often come with very specific guidelines on how the funds can be used, and unfortunately, they can’t be applied toward major infrastructure improvements. While they may help free up some general fund dollars to handle smaller maintenance needs, they don’t come close to covering the significant repairs and updates required in our aging buildings.

Mason Consolidated Schools officials have shared and are continuing to share information about the Mason Consolidated Schools Bond Proposal through community meetings February 20, March 6, March 18, and April 24, attending municipality meetings, direct mailings, social media, the school district website, and the news media.

No, both of these funding sources are restricted and cannot be used for general facility improvements or infrastructure projects.

• Section 22I(1) – School Transportation Fund: These funds must support transportation-related expenses. At Mason, we used them to cover transportation staff salaries and benefits, which freed up general fund dollars. This allowed us to purchase an additional lift bus to strengthen our fleet. The availability of these funds allowed us to remove our      consideration of including buses on the proposal.
• Excess Food Service Fund Balance: These funds must be used to enhance the school meal program. Even if there's a surplus, it cannot be redirected to other district needs. Mason has used these dollars responsibly—for example, replacing the high school steamer, repairing the kitchen vent hood, and planning for future purchases like a dishwasher and reach-in refrigerator. These improvements ensure our food service operations remain safe, efficient, and well-equipped to serve students every day.

No. By law, bond funds can only be spent on the specific project purposes outlined in the ballot language that is considered by voters. These projects are also reviewed and approved by the Michigan Department of Treasury before the bond is placed on the ballot. The district is legally limited to using the funds only for those outlined purposes and cannot redirect them to unrelated projects. 

The bond includes horizontal unit ventilators (HUVs) as a key part of the district’s HVAC upgrades. These modern systems provide consistent heating and cooling year-round, helping maintain comfortable classroom temperatures during both cold winters and increasingly warm fall and spring months.

Here’s how HUVs improve learning environments:

• Consistent temperature control – HUVs deliver reliable heat in colder months and cooling during warmer ones, preventing the extreme swings in temperature many classrooms currently face.
• Improved air circulation – These units bring in fresh, filtered outside air while exhausting stale indoor air, supporting better air quality and student health.
• State compliance – HUVs help ensure Mason meets and exceeds Michigan’s school ventilation codes, including the International Mechanical Code (IMC) and ASHRAE Standard 62.1.

Why is this important now?
Increased safety protocols over the years have limited the use of windows and exterior doors to circulate air. While these measures keep students safe, they’ve made it harder to manage indoor temperatures and air quality—especially during warmer days that now stretch well into the school year.

Installing HUVs allows Mason to create safe, comfortable, and healthy learning environments that meet today’s ventilation and safety standards while addressing the real impacts of climate and building age. 

Bonds can be used for:

• Constructing new school buildings
• Constructing additions to existing school buildings
• Remodeling existing school buildings
• Energy conservation improvements
• Land purchases
• Site development and improvements
• Athletic and physical education facility development and improvements
• Playground development and improvements
• Direct bond program costs such as professional fees, election fees, issuance costs, qualification fees, insurance fees, and final audit costs
• School bus purchases
• Purchasing loose furnishings and equipment (including administrative technology)
• Educational technology purchases are limited to hardware and communication devices that transmit, receive, or compute information for pupil instructional purposes only. The initial purchase of operating systems and customized application software is allowed if purchased with the initial hardware.

Bonds cannot be used for:

• Salaries, service contracts, lease payments, installment contracts, and supplies
• Repairs, maintenance, or maintenance agreements
• Purchasing automobiles, trucks, or vans
• Portable classrooms purchased for temporary use
• Uniforms
• Textbooks
• Upgrades to an existing computer operating system or application software
• Computer training, computer consulting, or computer maintenance contracts

Why this matters:
Bond dollars allow the district to address major facility needs without taking away from classroom learning or staffing. Using bond funding protects the general fund, which is already stretched to cover day-to-day operations. 

Yes, Mason Consolidated Schools has experienced a gradual decline in student enrollment over the past several years. This trend is not unique to our district—it’s happening across Michigan and much of the nation.

In fact, data from the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) shows that Michigan’s K-12 public school enrollment has declined by more than 100,000 students over the past 15 years. Many districts—especially those in rural and small-town areas like ours—are seeing fewer school-aged children due to a combination of declining birth rates, changing family dynamics, and shifting population patterns.

In addition to broader statewide trends, Mason faces unique local challenges that influence enrollment. Our district has historically seen high levels of student transiency, and our community demographics continue to evolve. Families are more mobile than in previous decades, and traditional enrollment projection methods—such as relying solely on birth rates or cohort survival ratios—no longer give a complete picture.

We closely monitor enrollment patterns each year and adjust resources accordingly. While declining enrollment does impact funding (since school funding in Michigan is based on per-pupil allocations), our focus remains on providing a high-quality education and maintaining facilities that support learning, regardless of the fluctuations in enrollment.

If the bond does not pass, the district will continue to address facility issues as they arise using general fund dollars. However, this approach is reactive and diverts funding away from instruction, student support, and staffing. Without bond funding, many larger, critical projects will simply be out of reach.

Our focus remains on clearly communicating the urgency of the needs our schools face. If the bond is not approved on May 6, we will immediately begin prioritizing the most pressing concerns, determine if any can be addressed within the limitations of the general fund, and consider returning to voters with a revised proposal.

Will schools shut down immediately?
No, schools will not close right away. However, many of the urgent infrastructure needs—such as electrical systems, heating and ventilation, wastewater, roofing, and structural integrity—have the potential to cause significant disruptions. If left unaddressed, any one of these issues could lead to closures lasting a day, a month, or even longer. 

See chart below for the 2024 Debt and Sinking Fund Mills Levied for Monroe County.