COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Voters in Branch County will head to the to the polls one week from tomorrow, to decide the fate of two major school bond proposals totaling $124 million.
Coldwater Community Schools is seeking a $64 million bond to modernize its 70-year-old high school, which officials say has long outlived its original design. Meanwhile, Quincy Community Schools is requesting $60 million for a district-wide “Strong School, Strong Community” initiative aimed at replacing a century-old middle school and addressing nearly $56 million in critical repairs and infrastructure overhauls.
The Coldwater proposal focuses heavily on the high school campus, featuring a two-story, 62,000-square-foot wing for new science labs and a media center. If approved, the measure would result in a 1.5-mill tax increase, costing the average homeowner approximately $12.50 per month. District leaders emphasize that this project is a scaled-back version of previous requests, focusing on essential safety and climate control needs, including the addition of central air conditioning—a first for the high school.
Quincy’s $60 million plan addresses urgent structural failures, including plumbing issues and leaking roofs at the middle and high schools. The bond would fund a new academic wing at the high school to replace the current middle school building, alongside major renovations at Jennings Elementary. Due to Quincy’s lower taxable value, the proposal represents a net tax increase of 4.55 mills, which would cost the owner of a $200,000 home roughly $455 per year.
Both school districts have dedicated bond information tabs on their websites.
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