November proposals would maintain essential operating revenue and support continued investment in safe, modern learning environments
Behind every classroom, academic program, bus route, student support service, extracurricular activity, and learning opportunity is a financial commitment to students.
As Hemlock Public School District continues providing information about the two proposals on the November 3 ballot, district leaders are encouraging the community to look beyond millage rates and financial formulas and consider what school funding makes possible for students each day.
Families rarely experience school funding as a line in a budget. They experience it through the teachers and support staff who serve their children, the courses and programs available to them, the technology used in classrooms, the transportation that gets students safely to and from school, and the opportunities that allow young people to explore their interests and prepare for life after graduation.
“At its core, school funding is about people, programs, and possibilities,” Superintendent Don Killingbeck said. “Every budget decision eventually reaches a student. It influences the support they receive, the opportunities they can pursue, and the environment in which they learn. Our responsibility is to use those resources wisely and ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, discover their strengths, and prepare for the future.”
One of the two proposals on the November ballot is the renewal of the district’s non-homestead operating millage. Under Michigan’s school funding system, districts must levy this millage on commercial, industrial, rental, and other non-homestead properties to receive their full per-pupil funding.
This proposal is a renewal, not a new tax. It does not apply to owner-occupied primary residences.
If approved, the renewal would allow Hemlock Public School District to continue receiving nearly $3 million annually in operating revenue. These funds are part of the district’s general operating budget, which supports classroom instruction, teachers and support staff, student services, transportation, technology, extracurricular opportunities, building operations, and other everyday expenses.
Those resources help Hemlock offer a broad range of student experiences, including advanced coursework, early college opportunities, career and technical education, STEM learning, fine arts, athletics, student organizations, intervention services, and academic and behavioral support. They also help the district maintain reasonable class sizes, attract and retain quality employees, keep technology current, and respond to the changing needs of students and families.
“Students do not all discover their purpose in the same classroom or through the same experience,” Killingbeck said. “For one student, it may happen in an advanced academic course. For another, it may be in the STEM Center, on a stage, in a skilled trades program, on an athletic team, or through the encouragement of a trusted staff member. Strong schools create multiple pathways for students to find success.”
Voters will also consider a separate bond proposal designed to maintain the district’s current school tax rate while supporting long-term facility and infrastructure needs. Proposed investments would focus on school safety and security, additional classroom space to address enrollment growth, and improved connectivity across the district campus.
The two proposals serve different purposes. The operating millage renewal supports the district’s day-to-day operations, while the bond proposal would fund specific long-term improvements to district facilities and infrastructure. Both are structured to maintain current school tax rates.
Hemlock Public School District will continue sharing factual information about both proposals in the weeks leading up to the November 3 election. Frequently asked questions, financial information, proposed project details, and additional election resources are available on the district’s election webpage.