2024 Capital Bond Millage

Election Date

August 6, 2024

Ballot Language

TRAVERSE CITY AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL

Shall Traverse City Area Public Schools, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed One Hundred Eighty Million Dollars ($180,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

erecting, furnishing, and equipping additions to and/or remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping existing school facilities; erecting, furnishing, and equipping new school facilities; constructing, equipping, developing, and improving playgrounds and outdoor physical education, athletic, and storage facilities; acquiring, installing, and equipping and re-equipping school facilities for educational technology; purchasing school buses; and acquiring, developing, and improving playgrounds, play fields, athletic fields, and sites?

The following is for informational purposes only:

If this proposal is approved, it is estimated that the debt millage for the new and existing bond authorization shall be 3.10 mills, for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. It is anticipated that the bonds will be issued in series. The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2025 is .67 mill ($0.67 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty (20) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is .98 mill ($0.98 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

How to Register

Michigan voters are encouraged to register as early as possible before an election. Methods and requirements for voter registration depend on the following deadlines:

Voters can check their voter registration status and look up their local clerk information at Michigan.gov/Vote.

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Deadline to Register

If there are 15+ days before an election, voters can register online, by mail, or in person.

Within 14 days of an election and on Election Day, voters may only register by visiting their local clerk’s office to register in person with proof of residency documentation.

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Absentee Voter Information

All registered voters are eligible to receive an absentee ballot! 

The City of Traverse City has mailed Absentee Ballot Applications to City electors for the upcoming elections held in the City of Traverse City.

Due to the passage of the statewide ballot proposal 18-3, all eligible and registered voters in Michigan may now request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. 

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Highlights of the TCAPS 2024 Capital Bond Millage Proposal include:

• No Projected Increase Over Current Levy - Maintain Current 3.1 Mills
• Same Bond Millage Rate for the Last 26 Years
• 40% Lower than the State Average Bond Millage Rate of 5.4 Mills
• Responsible Management of $400 Million in Assets

Major proposed projects include:

• Elementary Renovation / Reconstruction (Central Grade School)
• Safety and Security Improvements
• Facility Improvements at All Schools
  • aging infrastructure upgrades, instructional enhancements (including Music and STEM), and improvements for ADA access
• Technology Upgrades
• Bus Replacements

Additional proposed capital project plan information includes:

• Approximately 35,000 Square Feet of Learning Space Enhancements
• Up to 9 Roof Replacements
  • Approximately 800,000 square feet of coverage across school district facilities
• Facility Improvements Across the School District (estimated)
  • 26 boilers
  • 260 heat pumps
  • 5 playground drainage upgrades
  • 6 building bleacher replacements with ADA upgrades
  • 13 site improvements to driveways, curbs, sidewalks, and parking lots

Pre-Bond Millage Planning 

TCAPS requested proposals for district wide facilities assessments and future bond millage planning. Selected firms used the assessments to develop a master plan for district projects, cost estimating, and to provide pre-bond millage services for the district. 

Read the full Request for Proposal (RFP) 

October 19, 2023 Pre-Bond Millage Study Session

The Board of Education held a pre-bond study session on October 19 at 5:00 p.m. at the Boardman Administration Building, 412 Webster Street. 

View the slides
Read the Press Release

August 16, 2023 Pre-Bond Millage Planning Retreat 

The Board of Education held a Board Retreat on August 16. Details of the retreat are available at: August 16, 2023 Pre-Bond Planning Board Retreat.  The Board will reconvene October 19, 2023 for a second session. 

Read the press release from the August 16 retreat. 

Pre-Bond Millage Planning Documents 

August 2, 2023 Board Finance and Operations Committee Meeting
Facility Assessments and Bond Planning Timeline
Pre-Bond Planning RFP
Programming Assessment Reports
Condition Assessment Reports
Cost Estimate Summary
Individual Building Estimates

Thank You to Our Community

Thank you to the many staff members, families, and community members who attended an information session or participated in TCAPS' bond planning survey. Your input is greatly appreciated and will be utilized during the planning process.