PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Portage Public Schools superintendent Mark Beilang says the $175 million bond proposal approved by voters in 2021 for replacing five elementary schools and renovating another won’t be enough money to finish the project.
Beilang says they are nearly done replacing Central and Haverhill elementary schools and are designing the new version of Woodland Elementary School.
Those projects cost $115.3 million and the $59.7 million left won’t be enough to cover rising costs.
Beilang says the bond was based on 2-to-3% inflation and the costs since 2021 have jumped by 30%.
That means what would have cost $175 million would now cost $267 million and Beilang says they might have to go back to voters with another request in November 2025, which is the soonest opportunity they have.
Beilang says voters have always been very supportive of the schools and adds they are confident they can put a proposal forward that will work.
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