Richmond Community Schools is asking voters on May 5, 2026 to approve a school bond proposal that would provide funding for building expansions and improvements at all three of our district’s school facilities. This article explains what the proposal is, why it is being asked for, how the tax rate works, and what the dollars would be used for.
What Is This Proposal?
This is a school bond proposal, which means voters are being asked to authorize the district to borrow money for construction and facility projects. The total amount the district is asking to borrow is up to $51,800,000 in bonds.
These bonds would be used to pay for:
Adding space where student enrollment is growing.
Expanding and updating classrooms and learning spaces.
Modernizing facilities to better accommodate current and future student needs.
Investing in instructional technology, capacity, and infrastructure that supports educational programming.
Why Is This Being Asked For?
Over the past decade, Richmond Community Schools has seen steady increases in student enrollment. Enrollment growth means more students in classrooms, hallways, lunchrooms, and shared spaces. Projections show that this growth trend will continue over the next several years.
When enrollment grows, the district must plan ahead to ensure that:
There is enough physical space for students and staff.
Classrooms and specialized spaces (STEM, arts, labs) meet current educational standards.
Facilities function safely and efficiently for students and the community.
The bond proposal is intended to help create capacity and flexibility in our buildings so teachers and students have the spaces they need to do their work, now and in the future.
How Does the Tax Rate Work?
This proposal is structured so that it does not increase the millage rate above what homeowners are currently paying. The millage rate is the amount of tax per $1,000 of taxable property value. A “no-increase millage” means the rate stays the same. It does not go up because of this proposal.
Here’s how that works in practical terms:
Richmond Community Schools has been paying down older bond debt in recent years. In July 2023 and July 2024, the debt millage rate was reduced because existing debt was paid off. Projections indicate another reduction in July 2026.
Because the district is retiring old debt, new bonds can be issued without increasing the overall tax rate. Essentially, the district would be replacing older debt with new debt but at the same millage rate as before.
The proposal authorizes issuing approximately $51,500,000 in bonds, plus generating a modest amount of capitalized interest, for a total of roughly $51.78 million for projects.
In other words:
If voters approve this bond proposal, homeowners will continue paying the same millage rate they are paying now.
The district will be able to invest in buildings and classrooms that help serve a growing student population.
Over time, as older debt continues to be retired, the millage rate will naturally decline.
How This Is Different from a Tax Increase
A tax increase would mean humans pay more money each year than they did before.
This proposal asks voters to continue paying the same rate you already pay, even as the district borrows money for specific capital projects.
Because the current rate is going down in future years, this proposal essentially locks in the current rate instead of letting it fall. The result is that the district can secure funding for needed projects without increasing your tax burden.
What Can and Cannot Be Paid For with Bond Funds
State law restricts how bond dollars can be spent:
Bond funds must be used for building and site improvements, technology infrastructure, facility expansions, and related capital projects.
Bond funds cannot be used for teacher or staff salaries, day-to-day operating costs, routine maintenance, or similar expenses.
Also, spending is audited to ensure that every dollar goes where voters authorized it.
Enrollment and Facility Need
Growth in student enrollment is not a short-term fluctuation. Richmond Community Schools has experienced meaningful increases over the past decade, and projections show continued growth. Ensuring adequate classroom space and updated facilities is a long-term logistical and planning challenge.
Providing enough space supports not only current students and staff but helps the district remain competitive and prepared for future families who choose Richmond for education.
State of the District Presentation
To provide facts, data, and a chance for voters to ask questions, Richmond Community Schools will host the 2026 State of the District Address on March 25, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. During this event, district leaders will present information about enrollment, facility needs, project scope, and the bond proposal. Community members are encouraged to attend and learn directly from district leadership.
The school district is asking voters on May 5, 2026 to authorize up to $51,800,000 in bonds for building expansions and improvements.
The proposal is structured so that the tax rate does not increase above the current level.
Richmond’s steady enrollment growth is creating real space needs in classrooms and facilities.
Bond funds must be used only for capital projects and cannot be spent on salaries or operating costs.
This article is intended to help residents understand the facts of the upcoming vote. For more details or questions, attend the State of the District Address or visit the link below:
https://www.richmond.k12.mi.us/page/proposed-no-increase-millage