Allendale Public Schools is asking voters on November 3 for two bonds, and each one passes or fails on its own. The district split them after community feedback on the two plans voters turned down: renovations and additions to existing schools in one question, a new multipurpose building in the other.
Proposal 1: $66,700,000 for the schools
The first bond covers safety and security work at every building, from secure entrances and cameras to keyless entry, generators and fire alarms, plus roofs, plumbing and heating. It adds classrooms at the Early Childhood Center, remodels restrooms, music rooms, the cafeteria and the weight room at the high school, builds new shops and labs for science, technology and industrial classes, and pays for elevators, flooring, playgrounds, athletic fields and auditorium upgrades across the district. It also buys buses and classroom technology (project sheet).
"We need to add some classrooms to our early childhood center because of the growth," Superintendent Garth Cooper told WOOD TV during the 2025 campaign, pointing to the new homes going up around the township. The district also notes a long waiting list for career and technical classes at the Ottawa Area ISD's Careerline Tech Center.
Proposal 2: $27,045,000 for a community building
The second bond pays for a new school and community building east of the high school with a walking track open to the community, an indoor field for baseball, volleyball, football and soccer, a marching band practice field, space for career and technical education, physical education and health programs, team rooms, a weight room and space for events (project sheet).
What it costs
For both bonds, the ballot language estimates first-year levies for the new bonds of 2.64 mills for Proposal 1 and 1.41 mills for Proposal 2, each with no net increase over the prior year's levy, and average levies of 3.59 mills and 1.55 mills a year over repayment. The district says the proposals would finance the projects without increasing the current debt millage rate; the ballot's figures are estimates, not a guarantee that the rate will stay the same throughout repayment. FOX 17 reported a 12-mill debt levy in May 2025, and the district says it has since cut it by nearly 2 mills. The bonds could run up to 30 years.
A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. Use the taxable value printed on your property tax notice, which can be substantially lower than half your home's market value.
Third time on the ballot
An $88.3 million bond lost narrowly in August 2024, 2,206 to 2,049 (Michigan Treasury). A similar request lost in May 2025, 2,392 to 1,661. After that vote Cooper said boilers and roofs would be paid for out of the general fund (FOX 17). Together this year's two bonds total about $93.7 million, so voters who want the repairs without the new building can vote yes on one and no on the other.
Where to vote early
Early voting for Allendale Township, Blendon Township and Hudsonville runs October 24 to November 1, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Allendale Township Hall, 6676 Lake Michigan Dr. City of Coopersville residents go to Coopersville City Hall, 289 Danforth St., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Every county voter also decides the Ottawa County parks increase. Your sample ballot at Michigan.gov/Vote shows exactly what is on yours, and the full lakeshore voting guide has dates, sites and the statewide races.
