Bridgman Schools Seek Voter Approval for Infrastructure Upgrades and Millage Renewal

Bridgman Public Schools district is asking voters to approve a $21.45 million bond and a 10-year operating millage renewal in the May election.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:00am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a school backpack repeated in a grid pattern, rendered in bold neon colors and heavy black outlines to capture the essential educational elements of the Bridgman school district's funding needs.Bridgman Public Schools' upcoming bond and millage measures aim to fund critical infrastructure upgrades and operational costs for the district's three school buildings.Bridgman Today

The Bridgman Public Schools district in Southwest Michigan is seeking voter approval for a $21.45 million bond to fund infrastructure improvements across its three school buildings, including new roofs, HVAC systems, security updates, and parking lot repairs. The district is also asking voters to approve a 10-year renewal of its operating millage, which accounts for 75-80% of its total revenue.

Why it matters

Bridgman Public Schools is an independent district that does not receive state funding, so the operating millage is critical to its day-to-day operations and ability to provide educational programs. The bond measure is necessary to address aging facilities and infrastructure that require significant upgrades to remain functional.

The details

The $21.45 million bond would not raise taxes, as it would simply extend the current 0.88 mill rate for an additional 12-14 years to cover the new debt. The operating millage only applies to non-homestead properties like commercial and second homes. Bridgman has historically passed these measures by wide margins, but the district is seeking a longer 10-year renewal this time to save on election costs.

  • The bond and millage renewal will be on the May 5, 2026 ballot.
  • Bridgman Public Schools is hosting an informational forum on the ballot questions on April 30, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

The players

Bridgman Public Schools

An independent school district in Southwest Michigan that does not receive state funding, relying heavily on local property tax revenue to operate.

Shane Peters

Superintendent of Bridgman Public Schools, who is urging voters to approve the bond and millage renewal measures.

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What they’re saying

“We're talking at all three of our buildings. New roofs, new HVAC systems, some security updates at all three of our buildings. Our parking lots are in grave repair. And, really, it's just infrastructure.”

— Shane Peters, Superintendent

“Really, what we're asking our residents in the Bridgman school district is to extend that .88 for an additional 12-14 years. And as that gets extended, that would give us that $21.4 million to work on really some infrastructure projects.”

— Shane Peters, Superintendent

“With Bridgman's unique funding structure, this is like 75 to 80% of our total revenue that the district receives. So this millage renewal is one that is of vital importance to the district in passage.”

— Shane Peters, Superintendent

What’s next

The Bridgman Public Schools district is hosting an informational forum on the bond and millage renewal proposals on April 30, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at Bridgman High School.

The takeaway

Bridgman Public Schools' reliance on local property tax revenue means the upcoming bond measure and millage renewal are critical to funding basic infrastructure upgrades and day-to-day operations for the district. Voter approval will be essential to maintaining the quality of Bridgman's schools.