*Kalamazoo County, Michigan* — A special election on May 5, 2026, brings seven proposals to the ballot that will shape education funding, waste management policy, and property taxes across Kalamazoo County.
The ballot includes three millage renewals, three bond proposals, and one ordinance amendment that affect residents from Portage to Comstock, from Vicksburg to Galesburg.
The Millages
The first proposal is the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency Special Education Millage Renewal and Restoration Proposal. This millage renewal would maintain the current authorized rate of 1.4862 mills — $1.4862 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation — and restore millage lost as a result of constitutional requirements. The proposal seeks renewal for six years, from 2027 to 2032, with an additional increase of .0138 mill.
The Bonds
Three school districts are seeking voter approval on bond proposals totaling over $98 million.
Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools is seeking approval for an $11.24 million bond for facility maintenance and improvements. The proposal would result in zero net increase over the 2025 debt levy. The district identifies roof repairs as the top priority.
Vicksburg Community Schools is seeking approval for a $64.135 million bond to continue facility improvements. The proposed millage rate of 3.83 mills represents zero net increase over the prior year. The bond would fund ongoing improvements to school facilities that began after approval of a 2020 bond proposal.
Comstock Public Schools is seeking approval for a $23.7 million bond for district-wide improvements including remodeling school buildings, improving safety, refurnishing classrooms, and purchasing new school buses. The proposed millage rate of 0.68 mill represents zero net increase over the 2025 rate. This is notably lower than an $8 million difference compared to a November 2025 proposal that voters rejected.
The Ordinance Amendment
The City of Portage is seeking approval for a single-hauler waste collection ordinance. The proposal would require registration of garbage collection providers, mandate published fee schedules, prevent exclusive contracts for collection services, and protect resident choice in selecting waste collection services.
Voter Information
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. The last day to register to vote is Monday, April 20, 2026. All eligible voters in Michigan can vote by absentee ballot. Those requesting mail ballots must request by 5 p.m. on April 30, 2026. Voters can request and vote absentee ballots in person at their clerk's office until 4 p.m. on May 4, 2026.
Historical Context
Off-cycle elections notoriously experience low turnout. The May 2025 special election received ballots from only 20 percent of Kalamazoo County's registered voters. In November 2025, voters across Michigan rejected over half of school bond requests. In Kalamazoo County specifically, voters rejected bond proposals in Comstock, Galesburg-Augusta, and Parchment.
The approval rate for the May 2025 election was the lowest in years, according to Bridge Michigan, suggesting the economy, complexity of school financing, and shifting attitudes about public education may all play a role.
What's at Stake
The seven proposals on the May 5 ballot require voter approval to proceed. Without approval, the school districts cannot access the funds for facility improvements, and the City of Portage cannot implement the new waste collection ordinance.
Voters must weigh the costs and benefits of each proposal. The school bond proposals all claim zero net increase over current millage rates, but the long-term implications of these investments in school facilities will affect residents for decades.
The trash ordinance represents a shift in how Portage manages waste collection services. The single-hauler requirement would mandate residents use providers who register and publish fee schedules, preventing exclusive contracts and protecting resident choice.
How to Vote
Residents can vote in person at their local clerk's office, by mail ballot, or by early voting at their clerk's office. The election is a special election, meaning it falls outside the regular election cycle and typically experiences lower turnout.
The proposals affect every resident in Kalamazoo County. School bonds in Vicksburg, Galesburg-Augusta, and Comstock will impact property owners across those districts. The trash ordinance affects all Portage residents. The millage renewals impact all property owners in the KRESA service area.
Voters must research each proposal carefully, attend public hearings, and make informed decisions about the future of their communities.