Harper Creek Community Schools 2026 Bond Program

A bond is a statutorily authorized funding process for a set scope of large-scale projects. When voters approve a bond proposal, the school district sells bonds in the voter authorized amount and uses the bond sale proceeds to pay for bond proposal projects. Bonds are typically paid back in 20-30 years.

Bonds can be used for:

• Constructing new school buildings

• Constructing additions to existing school buildings

• Remodeling existing school buildings

• Energy conservation improvements

• Site development and improvements

• Athletic and physical education facility development and improvements

• Playground development and improvements

• Direct bond program costs, such as professional fees, election fees, issuance costs, qualification fees, insurance fees, and final audit costs

• Purchasing loose furnishings and equipment (including administrative technology)

• Purchasing instructional technology.

Bonds cannot be used for:

• Salaries, service contracts, lease payments, installment contracts, and supplies

• Repairs, maintenance, or maintenance agreements

• Purchasing automobiles, trucks, or vans

• Portable classrooms purchased for temporary use

• Uniforms

• Textbooks

• Upgrades to an existing computer operating system or application software

• Computer training, computer consulting, or computer maintenance contract.

No. Bond proposal funds cannot be used for employee salaries. They also cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses. Bond proposal funds must be used only for purposes specified in the ballot language for bond issuance costs, and state law requires that they be independently audited.

If approved by voters, the bond program would address needs throughout the district. The plan is as follows:

• Four classrooms would be added to each of the district’s three elementary buildings.
• The currently empty pool area at the middle school would be converted to classroom space.
• To address safety concerns, safety film will be added to all first-floor windows, outdated classroom technology will be replaced, and a district-wide upgrade to technology will occur.
• Infrastructure issues would be addressed, including replacement of the Beadle Lake playground, drainage fixes at Sonoma, traffic flow and parking improvements at Wattes Park, middle school and transportation parking lots, and partial roof replacement at the high school.

The sale of bonds would raise approximately $28 million while keeping the debt millage rate at the same level as 2025.

The final payment on the bond is projected to be May 1, 2047.

The projects outlined on the ballot and in the bond application submitted to the Michigan Department of Treasury will not be completed.

Shall Harper Creek Community Schools, Calhoun County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twenty-Eight Million Dollars ($28,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, for the purpose of: 

erecting, furnishing, and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, including security improvements to, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping existing school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; and equipping, developing, and improving playgrounds, parking areas, driveways, and sites? 

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027, under current law, is 0.32 mill ($0.32 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the current year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-one (21) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.23 mills ($2.23 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). 

The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $3,446,512, and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $1,666,343. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 9 years, and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7.12 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. 

The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $24,915,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is approximately $15,689,545. 

(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.)

It is anticipated that the construction and renovation phase of the projects will take place between November 2026 and September 2029.

Through careful planning the school district is putting forth a proposal that addresses its highest priority needs while keeping the debt millage at the same level as 2025.  The total cost of the projects is estimated at just over $28.5 million.

If successful, the bond program would allow our district to keep pace with school districts that surround ours. Other districts have invested in their school buildings through recently approved bond programs.  Our community would benefit from having modern learning spaces for students. Research shows that investing in schools allows communities to support strong property values. Public School Review cites a National Bureau of Economic Research finding that every dollar spent by public schools correlates with a $20 increase in home values.

HCCS receives approximately $2.3 million annually in casino revenue. These funds support the following key programs: 

Health and Safety—including the school nurse, health aides at all schools, and school resource officers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. 

Technology—including student and staff computers, as well as the annual computer replacement program, which allows the district to stay current with technology. 

Maintenance Projects—including parking lot resurfacing and repairs, high school heat and air conditioning upgrades, stadium turf replacement, Crosby Drive Harper Creek Junior High demolition, and the softball press box.

Of note: Many districts seek Building and Site Sinking Fund millages to support ongoing repairs and maintenance in addition to funding for bond projects. In HCCS, we are fortunate to have casino revenues to offset the need for a Building and Site Sinking Fund. Also, noteworthy is the fact that since the construction of the casino, all bus and vehicle purchases have been paid for with casino revenues.

Visit the About Us section of the HCCS website for more specific information on how the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and FireKeepers Casino Hotel's revenue supports the district.

Harper Creek accepts non-resident students through Michigan's Schools of Choice program. The district receives full per-pupil state funding for each Schools of Choice student enrolled. These students help maintain and grow programs, offset enrollment declines, and support staffing levels. Enrollment is based on available openings by grade. Kindergarten enrollment is open.

The election is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026. 

Registered voters who reside within the boundaries of the Harper Creek Community Schools District who will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day may vote in this election. Voters may only vote in elections associated with their primary residence.

Registered voters do not need a reason to vote by absentee ballot.  You can request an absentee ballot application from the clerk’s office or by going online to www.michigan.gov/vote and clicking Vote at home.  Absentee ballots are generally available for the August election by June 25, 2026.