Kent, Montcalm County voters approve Tri County Area school operating millage

KENT COUNTY, MI - Voters in Kent County approved two school operating millage requests on Tuesday, Nov. 5, for Tri County Area Public Schools and Godfrey-Lee Public Schools.

According to unofficial Kent County election results, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools' operating millage request in Kent County passed with 1,179 votes in favor, 55.98% and 927 votes in opposition, 44.02%.

While Tri County Area Schools is located in Montcalm County, the district has a few hundred Kent residents eligible to weigh-in on its request, along with residents in Newaygo County.

Tri County Area Public Schools' operating millage request in Kent County passed with 293 votes in favor, 56.35% and 227 votes in opposition, 43.65%. In Montcalm County, there were 3,175 votes in favor, 58.47%, and 2,255 votes in opposition, 41.53%. In Newaygo County, there were 797 votes in favor, 55.50%, and 639 votes in opposition, 44.50%.

In total, the proposal received 4,265 votes in favor and 3,121 votes in opposition.

The district serves 1,685 students, according to state data.

The proposal is a two-year renewal of the operating millage, and would be in effect for the 2025 and 2026 tax years. The district can collect a little over $2.8 million in 2025.

According to materials published by the district, the operating millage makes up nearly 11% of its roughly $26.1 million annual budget for the 2024-25 school year, along with roughly $1,698 of the state per-pupil foundation allowance.

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