Survey shows community support for potential West Ottawa bond proposal

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·3 min read

HOLLAND TWP. — As construction continues on projects from a 2019 bond proposal, West Ottawa Public Schools is working on a plan for future needs.

Earlier this month, WOPS conducted a phone survey of the district to gauge interest on a potential future bond. No official decisions have been made. Projects and dollar amounts in the survey aren’t official, either, but the results will help guide the district’s planning.

West Ottawa Public Schools conducted a preliminary bond survey earlier this month to gauge interest in a potential future bond.
West Ottawa Public Schools conducted a preliminary bond survey earlier this month to gauge interest in a potential future bond.

“We’re constantly planning for upkeep and maintenance of our assets,” Associate Superintendent of Business Services Jeff Malloch said during a school board work session Jan. 23.

In the survey, which was conducted by EPIC MRA out of Lansing, 400 WOPS residents were randomly selected to give thoughts on a potential $249 million bond that wouldn't raise taxes.

Malloch acknowledged there may be some “sticker shock” with the dollar amount, but explained the number is how much the district could generate without raising taxes from the current 7.75 debt millage rate.

That's possible by identifying when the district’s millage rate is set to decrease through paying off old bonds, and instead replacing that amount with new bonds to keep the millage rate the same.

Superintendent Tim Bearden said inflation and elevated construction costs have raised price tags for projects.

Residents were asked how they would likely vote four times — once knowing only the dollar amount, once after hearing potential projects, once after hearing arguments for the bond and once after hearing arguments against the bond.

Each time, a majority of those surveyed said they were either a “solid yes” or “leaning yes.”

Initially, the 400 respondents showed 60 percent support for the project. Subsequent asks had 67, 66 and 66 percent support. The percentage of “solid yes” votes was 48, 55, 56 and 57 percent, respectively, as the survey went on.

The survey also asked for opinions on 13 different potential bond projects. Each area had majority support, but that support varied from a narrow 51 percent to a strong 86 percent.

The strongest support came for roofing (86 percent), security upgrades (82), 30 new buses (81) and air conditioning upgrades (80).

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Also receiving at least 70 percent support were air filtration systems (78 percent), an early childhood center (73), district-wide classroom technology (70) and LED lighting upgrades (70).

New furniture at Macatawa Bay Middle School had support from 69 percent of those surveyed. Renovations at the high school buildings had 67 percent support.

Next were a pair of items at Harbor Lights Middle School, which has seen significant work in its classrooms from the 2019 bond. Athletic and co-curricular space renovations had 67 percent support, while pool renovations and a natatorium had 62 percent.

The least-supported project among survey participants was a new community center at 51 percent.

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Bearden said administration will continue to evaluate options and work on details going forward.

West Ottawa’s strategic plan calls for a bond effort in either November 2023 or May 2024.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Survey shows community support for potential West Ottawa bond proposal