2025 Enhancement Millage & Sinking Fund

Under Michigan law, the construction and repair of school facilities is a local responsibility. A sinking fund is a millage that provides a school district with the fiscal resources for facility construction and repair. 

While voters have approved a sinking fund for EGRPS since 1995, this is technically a new millage as the allowed uses under law have expanded since the last voter approval.

Repairs to plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical systems are required in every building annually and represent the largest category of repair expenditures. Doors, fire alarm systems, elevators, and parking lots are additional examples of common repairs addressed annually.

• Godfrey Lee - 2.7208 mills
• Kentwood - 1.5718 mills
• Grandville - 1.3502 mills
• Sparta - 1.2033 mills
• Northview - 1.1379 mills
• Kelloggsville - 0.9888 mills
• Kent City - 0.9696 mills
• Byron Center - 0.9694 mills
• Comstock Park - 0.9576 mills
• Rockford - 0.4734 mills
• Wyoming - 0.4649 mills
• EGRPS - 0.4324 mills

No. Sinking funds are limited to the specific uses established by law and cannot be used to pay for salaries, benefits, supplies, utilities or other operational expenses.

• School construction
• School repair
• Security improvements
• Instructional technology
• Student transportation vehicles 
• Maintenance equipment & vehicles 
• Repairs to vehicles

Yes. Each year an independent auditing firm reviews all expenditures to ensure compliance with state law and voter authorization.

When voters last approved a sinking fund for EGRPS in 2016, transportation vehicles, instructional technology, and security infrastructure were not authorized uses.  A new millage, if approved, would authorize such expenditures. 

If approved, the District would be authorized to levy 0.5 mills.  Voters previously approved an authorization of 0.5 mills in 2016 for 10 years and 0.5 mills in 1995 for 20 years.

School bonds allow a District to issue debt for large capital expenditures which is then repaid over extended periods of time.  Sinking funds generate resources annually for capital expenditures.  Michigan law provides school districts both options to address facility needs.

When a sinking fund is in place, capital needs and repairs will typically be paid from those resources first allowing the general fund to be concentrated on educational programming. 

When no sinking fund is in place, capital needs and repairs are paid from the general fund.

EGRPS levied 0.4324 mills of the originally authorized 0.5000 mills due to Headlee millage reductions since its original passage.

Under Michigan law, intermediate school district voters can approve up to a 3 mill levy to support public education on an equal per pupil basis for those districts covered by the ISD. 

Reference: Public Act 451 of 1976 Section 380.70

• Special Education Support 
• High School Counselors
• Middle School Counselors 
• Elementary Reading Support
• K-1 Classroom Paraeducators

This proposal asks voters to restore and renew the 10-year,  0.9 millage originally approved in 2017.

This millage is estimated to provide $357 in funding per student in its first year if approved.

Yes. Each year an independent auditing firm reviews all expenditures to ensure compliance with state law and voter authorization.