St. Joseph Public Schools is asking voters to consider two millage proposals to support district operations.

Both proposals, the Non-Homestead and Sinking Fund millages, are renewals for five more years to continue the current millage rates, which means no increase to taxpayers.

The renewal of the Non-Homestead millage would account for $7.9 million, or about 20% of the school district’s total general fund. Superintendent Kristen Bawks says this renewal pays for salaries and benefits of staff, transportation, and curriculum, among others things.

“If this millage did not pass, the non-homestead, the state doesn’t come back and give us the difference,” Bawks said. “So we would just be short almost $8 million in our budget. It would mean cutting programming and things like that to our students.”

The renewal of the sinking fund would pay for classroom flooring, HVAC controls, fire suppression systems, and other maintenance projects. Bawks says all projects are based on priority needs throughout the district, and help keep the buildings operational.

“These are some of the projects that are maybe lower cost projects. We use Building and Site Sinking Fund money to just keep our facilities operable and make small improvements, not big overhaul improvements, like a bond issue would call for.”

The ballot language reads:

“Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in St. Joseph Public Schools, Berrien County, Michigan, be increased by 19.5702 mills ($19.5702 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2025 to 2029, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2025 is approximately $7,914,140 (this would replace millage that expired with the 2024 tax levy)”

“Shall the currently authorized millage rate of 0.9915 mill ($0.9915 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) which may be assessed against all property in St. Joseph Public Schools, Berrien County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2026 to 2030, inclusive, to continue to provide for a sinking fund for the purchase of real estate for sites for and the construction or repair of school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2026 is approximately $1,392,661 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2025 tax levy)”

Polls open November 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information or questions, contact the district or visit their website.