Voters in several Van Buren County communities will have proposals on the ballot May 2. For the city of Bangor, voters are being asked to renew a levy of a half-mill for the Bangor Historical Society Millage for five years. It will raise an estimated $18,000 in 2024 for services, programs, maintenance, and improvement of the museum on West Monroe Street. In Bangor Township, a road millage proposal is on the ballot to be increased by 4 mils from 2023 through 2026. Covert Township has several millages before voters. One would renew police protection, another would renew ambulance and fire protection, and the third would renew the road improvement millage. Keeler Township voters will decide on a township operating millage of .35 mills, a police millage renewal, and a road millage renewal.
School bonds are on the ballot in Bangor Public Schools, Bloomingdale Public Schools, Coloma Community Schools, Watervliet Public Schools, and Dowagiac Union School District. In Bangor, it would allow the district to borrow $7.25 million for the remodeling, furnishing, equipping and re-equipping schools including for better security. Bloomingdale Public Schools are seeking an operating millage of a maximum of 18 mills to receive their full revenue in per-pupil state funding. Coloma schools are seeking to borrow $28.25 million in their bond request for remodeling and building new school buildings and improving athletic fields. Watervliet Public Schools have a nearly $30 million bond proposal on the ballot, and Dowagiac Union Schools are asking for a district operating millage. Polls are open 7 am to 8 pm on May 2.
