See what’s on the May 3 ballot in your community

WEST MICHIGAN — Several school bond proposals, millage renewals and other issues are on the May 3 ballot in communities across West Michigan. Below is what you can find on the ballot in your county:

• ALLEGAN COUNTY:
  

• Macatawa Area Express (MAX) Transportation Authority millage renewal
  • The current tax on residents expires in December. The renewal would keep the current tax rate, which costs the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $40 per year. If approved by voters, the tax would last for another five years.
• Otsego Public Safety millage
  • A ten year tax levy to be used for operating, maintaining, equipping and purchasing equipment for the city's police and fire departments. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $200 per year.
• Laketon Township fiber optic bond proposal
  • An $8.6 million bond proposal to repay the cost of constructing and improtving the fiber optic infrastructre in the township to provide internet service.
• Hamilton Community Schools
  • A $22.67 million bond proposal to fund improved security and upgraded cameras at Hamilton High School, enhanced district technology, district-wide building renovations and repairs, new playgrounds and improved athletic facilities.
• Hopkins Public Schools
  • A millage proposal and sinking fund tax for the repair and construction of district buildings.
• Hudsonville Public Schools
  • A millage renewal to provide funds for operating purposes to replace the expire 2015 millage. If approved, it would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $1,800 per year.
• Zeeland Public Schools
  • A millage renewal to provide funds for operating purposes to replace the expire 2015 millage. If approved, it would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $1,800 per year.

>> See full Allegan County ballot

• BERRIEN COUNTY:
  • Brandywine Public Schools
    • A 10 year millage proposal to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and other purposes. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $100 per year.
  • St. Jospeh Public Schools
    • $8.4 million bond proposal to remodel, re-furnish buildings and purchase new buses.

>> See full Berrien County ballot

• CALHOUN COUNTY:
  • Burlington Township Library
    • A six year millage proposal to provide continued funding for the township library. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $30 per year.
  • Albion Public Schools
    • Annexation proposal to allow Albion Public Schools to be annexed to Marshall Public Schools, effective July 1, 2016. If annexed, Albion Public Schools would cease to exist, but all the current operating debt would be paid off through a state grant awarded to Marshall for annexation-related costs. The district has faced declining enrollment for many years with a current enrollment of 320 students down from 1550 in 2001.
  • Lakeview Schools
    • Two separate bonding proposals would gotoward district improvements and building renovations. A $30 million proposal would cover costs to upgrade the elementary and middle schools buildings and upgrade security at Lakeview High School. An additional $3.3 million proposal would fund improvements to the Lakeview Middle School auditorium and fixes to Spartan Memorial Stadium.

>> See full Calhoun County ballot

• KALAMAZOO COUNTY:
  • County-wide law enforcement and safety millage proposal
    • The proposal will restore funding for the next six years to directly fund the offices of the Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Circuit Court Trial and Family Divisions, District Court, Animal Services and Enforcement Department, and Community Corrections. If passed, it would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $140 per year. The millage would generate roughly $12 million annually.
  • County transportation authority millage renewal
    • Renewing the millage would continue to allow funding for the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority for the next five years.
  • Comstock Public Schools bond proposal
    • A $40.1 million bond proposal to fund additions to and remodeling of district buildings and classrooms, roofing replacements, and improved security. Officials say it won't require an increase in taxes.
  • Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools bond proposal
    • A $10.4 million bond proposal to fund remodeling, equipping and refurnishing of schools buildings.
  • Mendon Community Schools
    • A millage renewal to provide operating funds for the next 10 years.
  • Richland Township
    • Vote to dissolved the village of Richland which will two-thirds vote of residents.

>> See full Kalamazoo County ballot

• KENT COUNTY:
  • Grandville Public Schools
    • Millage renewal to allow the school district to continue to levy building and site sinking fund millage previously approved by the electors.
  • Kenowa Hills Schools
    • A $55.2 million bond proposal to fund improvements to aging facilities, additional security at school entrances, roof repairs and improvements to school parking lots. An identical proposal on the November 2015 ballot failed by just under dozen votes. A larger proposal also failed last May. If passed, it would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 an additional $99 per year.
  • Sparta Area Schools
    • A $58.6 million bond proposal to fund the construction of a new middle school, additional security at building entrances, and improved playgrounds and athletic facilities. If passed, it would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 an additional $135 per year.

>> See full Kent County ballot

• MUSKEGON COUNTY:
  • Fruitport Township Public Safety
    • A millage renewal of the current voter-approved measure to fund police and fire protection services.
  • Fruitport Township Library millage
    • A three year millage proposal to provide continued funding for the township library. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $75 per year.
  • Grand Haven Area Public Schools millage renewal
    • Millage renewal to allow the school district to continue to levy rate previously approved by the electors.
  • Fruitport Community schools millage renewal
    • Millage renewal to allow the school district to continue to levy rate previously approved by the electors.
  • North Muskegon Public Schools
    • A 10 year millage proposal to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and other purposes. If passed, the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 would pay about $150 per year.
  • Muskegon Public Schools
    • A 10 year millage proposal to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and other purposes. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $100 per year.

>> See full Muskegon County ballot

• NEWAYGO COUNTY:
  • Big Rapids Public Schools millage renewal
    • Millage renewal to allow the school district to continue to levy rate previously approved by the electors.
  • Newaygo Public School District
    • A $22.9 million bond proposal to fund the construction of an addition to the Velma Matson Upper Elementary School building. The money will also fund remodeling, equipping and re-equipping, and furnishing and re-furnishing of other school buildings. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $139 per year.
  • White Cloud Public Schools
    • A $9.8 million bond proposal to remodel buildings, improve security and enhance parking lots. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $125 per year.
  • Reed City Public Schools
    • A $3.85 million bond proposal and a separate $10.9 million bond proposal.

>> See the full Newaygo County ballot

• OTTAWA COUNTY:
  • Macatawa Area Express (MAX) Transportation Authority millage renewal (see Allegan County)
  • Fruitport Community Schools millage renewal
    • Millage renewal to allow the school district to continue to levy rate previously approved by the electors.
  • Grand Haven Area Public Schools millage renewal (see Muskegon County)
  • Grandville Public Schools (see Kent County)
  • Hamilton Community Schools (see Allegan County)
  • Hudsonville Public Schools (see Allegan County)
  • Jenison Public Schools
    • A $25.3 million bond proposal to fund the replacement of aging buses, construction of a new school to house our Early Childhood and Spanish Immersion programs, additional security cameras at schools and increased security at school entrances. District officials say the bond proposal won't require raising taxes.
  • Kenowa Hills Schools (see Kent County)
  • Sparta Area Schools (see Kent County)
  • West Ottawa Public Schools
    • Millage renewal to allow the school district to continue to levy rate previously approved by the electors.
  • Zeeland Public Schools (see Allegan County)

>> See full Ottawa Countyballot

• VAN BUREN COUNTY:
  • Bangor city road improvements
    • A five year millage proposal to provide funds for road improvement and maintenance within the city. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $150 per year.
  • Covert Public Schools board member recall election
  • Gobles Public Schools
    • A 10 year millage proposal to create a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and other purposes. If passed, the additional tax would cost the owner of a home with taxable value of $100,000 about $200 per year.