CONCORD, MI -- Voters are being asked to consider a millage renewal to fund continued building maintenance for a western Jackson County school district.
A five-year renewal of Concord Community Schools’ sinking fund is on the May 7 election ballot. Last renewed in 2019, the millage is set to expire along with the 2024 tax levy, according to the proposal.
If passed by voters, the currently authorized millage rate of 1.9213 mills - or about $1.92 on each $1,000 of taxable property value - would be renewed for 2025-29. Concord Community Schools would collect about $358,034 in 2025 if the millage is approved and levied in May, officials said.
The renewal of the sinking fund would allow the district to maintain a steady schedule of construction and repair work across all school buildings, Superintendent Becky Hutchinson said, adding the district is spending an average of about $300,000 annually on improvement and maintenance work. Without the sinking fund, the money for this work might instead come out of Concord’s general fund, she said.
“That would just mean $300K less that we can’t spend on textbooks, curriculum and programming, staff salaries and insurance benefits,” Hutchinson said. “That’s scary to think about, honestly, because we’re in a really good place with our programming and staffing right now. Those things are important to maintain because of the experience we want our families and our kids to have.”
Concord is grateful for the continued support of its community that allows for regular, necessary infrastructural improvements, Hutchinson said.
In the last year, sinking fund money has allowed Concord to pay for districtwide sewer-line replacements and door security upgrades, as well as improvements to the hot water system at Concord Elementary School and upgrades to the heating and boiler system at the district’s bus garage, Hutchinson said.
Planned future projects include bathroom renovations at the elementary school, improved roof coating across the district and a renovation of the high school’s football pressbox, Hutchinson said. School officials are also considering improvements to air-conditioning systems in certain highly-used buildings, including the high school gymnasium.
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