07/14/2026
Bundling is sneaky and the opposite of transparency: "The remaining 3 mills are only available to 'restore' millage lost as a reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963..."
I said in January that the community survey was a good start, but what the district chose to do with the results was what mattered most.
Last night, I found myself thinking about every parent, staff member, and community member who took the time to complete that survey. We asked for their input, and one of the clearest messages was that they wanted funding requests separated. Seeing that feedback set aside was genuinely disheartening.
Instead, the Board voted to bundle the Non-Homestead Millage Renewal and the Headlee Override into a single ballot proposal this November.
This concerns me because history has shown our community understands the difference between these two questions.
In 2018, the proposals were presented separately. The Non-Homestead Millage Renewal passed with 66.4% of the vote, while the Headlee Override passed with 60%.
In 2022, they were separate again. The millage renewal passed with 64.9%, and the Headlee Override passed with 54.9%.
The voting history tells me our community is capable of evaluating each proposal independently. I don't believe separating the questions is too confusing for voters. In fact, I think the election results demonstrate just the opposite.
By bundling the two proposals together, the Board is putting approximately $9.5 million that supports teacher salaries and student programs behind a single yes-or-no vote. If the proposal fails, the district can return to voters in the spring, but special elections are costly.
What troubled me most was seeing the Board give greater weight to the recommendation of its PR consultant than to the feedback shared by the community. Community engagement builds trust only when people know their voices matter. If we ask residents for their input, we should be prepared to let that input shape our decisions.
This tax is levied on non-homestead property (businesses and vacation homes), but every voter has a voice in deciding it. Those voices deserved to be heard.
As a candidate for the Rockford Board of Education, I believe listening is more than collecting feedback. It's having the humility to let that feedback shape our decisions. If elected, I will advocate for listening first, respecting community input, and making decisions that reflect the voices of the people we serve, even when doing so isn't the easiest path.
