GLADSTONE — During a special election on May 6, voters within the Gladstone Area Public Schools district — which contains Escanaba Township and Brampton Township in addition to the City of Gladstone — will decide whether to support two requests for tax dollars to be collected for the schools.

Proponents have been highlighting the fact that the millage rate will not increase if these proposals pass; however, if voters say “no,” their tax rate will drop.

Money borrowed 28 years ago to build the Gladstone High School on M-35 is almost paid off. Property owners are currently paying 5.75 mills to the school district, a rate which has been lowered from the original payment amount due to refinancing.

Payments on that bond are scheduled to be completed by November 2026.

If voters say “yes” to both new proposals, they approve of the school taking out $21.7 million in bonds to do work at all four schools in the district. Money to pay back the bonds would come from taxes — the 5.75 mills that property owners are paying now would continue for about an additional five years and then are projected to gradually decline, ultimately being paid off in 13 years and 7 months.

If neither proposal passes, the tax levy is expected to be reduced but not eliminated for most of 2026, the year the existing bond will be paid off.

“We work with our public finance managers each year to determine the necessary debt levy to cover our bond payments. We would expect to reduce next year’s levy if neither proposal passes,” said Superintendent Jay Kulbertis.

The two proposals ask for money for upgrades to the school buildings that would heighten security, replace roofs and playground equipment (proposal 1), and build a multi-purpose facility that the high school that would give more space to athletics and robotics, thereby freeing up room at the middle school that would be used for skilled trades training (proposal 2).

A topic discussed at the April meeting of the Gladstone Area Schools Board of Education on Monday was the community coalition “Brighter Braves Future” and the forums they’ve held to give the public the opportunity to ask questions about the two bond proposals that voters will be faced with on May 6.

The coalition took off after the formation of a focus group to find out what sort of school projects the taxpayers might support; voters had shot down the district’s last attempt at a bond proposal in November 2023. It was this group that suggested splitting the school’s requests into two proposals.

Two more opportunities for the public to hear and see what the school district is seeking are coming up. This Thursday, April 24, a forum is at Cameron Elementary at 7 p.m. Another is one week later at Gladstone High School on May 1 at 7 p.m. While a couple of the earlier forums were at other places in town like Saunders Point Brewing and Superbloom Coffee House, opening up the schools to the public will give people the opportunity to see for themselves the state of the buildings and decide whether to support the bonds.

On Monday, a couple of the school board members spoke highly of the efforts of Brighter Braves Future, which notably does not include the superintendent but is made up of citizens, parents, school administrators and one school board member — all of whom support the proposed tax for some new construction and interior and exterior renovations at the schools in Gladstone.

“(Margaret Noreus) did a fantastic job; it was quite amazing the information she was giving and the interaction that she had with residents that were concerned,” said Phil DeMay, board trustee who recently attended one of the forums. “Everybody should check them out … They are very resourceful. If they don’t have (an answer to a question), they will probably come back and answer it.”

At past forums, some concerned taxpayers have asked whether the proposed construction work was really necessary; it isn’t as though classrooms are overfull.

However, many daycares are overfull, and one measure for a new addition to Cameron Elementary — included in proposal 1 — would create new classrooms for a younger group of children. By adding in early education, it would likely lessen the burden on daycares.

In addition, working to make local schools more attractive could potentially bring more young families to the area.

If the bonds pass, all of the proposed work would have to be completed in four years.