Public Notices (Published October 22, 2026)

NOTICE OF ELECTION
GRATIOT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GENERAL ELECTION

TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF GRATIOT COUNTY:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT AN ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN GRATIOT COUNTY ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026. THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.

AT THE FOLLOWING POLLING LOCATIONS:

Precinct Name Precinct Address Clerk Name/ Telephone No.
Alma Precinct 1 Presbyterian Church, 495 Charles Ave., Alma Sara Anderson, 989-463-8336
Alma Precinct 2 Peace Lutheran Church, 325 Warwick Dr., Alma Sara Anderson, 989-463-8336
Alma Precinct 3 Alma Public Library, 500 E. Superior St., Alma Sara Anderson, 989-463-8336
City of Ithaca Ithaca Community Center, 120 N. Maple St., Ithaca Cathy Cameron, 989-875-3200
St. Louis Precinct1 City Community Room, 300 N. Mill Street, St. Louis Jamie Long, 989-681-2137
Arcada Twp Arcada Twp Hall, 3200 W. Tyler Rd., Alma Laureen Baxter, 989-620-6272
Bethany Twp Bethany Twp Hall, 9958 Blair Rd., Breckenridge Tracy Howd, 989-620-5842
Elba Twp Precinct1 Elba Twp Office, 623 S. Quarterline Rd., Ashley Madalin Morris, 989-847-2097
Emerson Twp Emerson Twp Hall, 2976 Baldwin Rd., Ithaca Jodie Reeves, 989-875-5041
Fulton Twp Fulton Twp Hall, 3425 W. Cleveland Rd., Perrinton Denise Rossman, 989-236-5102
Hamilton Twp Hamilton Twp Hall, 7853 E. Fillmore Rd., Ithaca Karen Crocker, 989-763-7307
Lafayette Twp Lafayette Twp Hall, 2902 Barry Rd., Breckenridge Corey Schaub, 989-620-4354
New Haven Twp New Haven Twp Hall, 3027 S. Warner Rd., Sumner Candy Smith, 989-584-3707
Newark Twp Newark Twp Hall, 2918 W. Buchanan Rd., Ithaca Tamey Skinner, 989-620-6493
North Shade Twp North Shade Twp Hall, 8982 Roosevelt Rd., Carson City Kathy Keiffer, 989-584-6000
North Star Twp North Star Twp Hall, 2840 E. Buchanan Rd., North Star Heidi Drowley, 989-875-3352
Pine River Twp Pine River Twp Hall, 1495 W. Monroe Rd., St. Louis Andi Whitmore, 989-681-5523
Seville Twp Seville Twp Hall, 7676 W. Lincoln Rd., Elwell Ann Moomey, 989-763-7689
Sumner Twp Sumner Community Center, 10820 Pine St., Sumner Carlene McGill, 989-463-4531
Washington Twp Washington Twp Hall, 8989 S. Baldwin Rd., Ashley Tarry Stahl, 989-847-1000
Wheeler Twp Wheeler Twp Hall, 8510 E. Monroe Rd., Wheeler Kelly Bushre, 989-842-3428

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Gratiot County will be voting on candidates seeking nomination to the following offices and voting on the following proposals:

PARTISAN SECTION:

STATE: – 4 Year Terms (1)
Governor & Lt. Governor
Secretary of State
Attorney General

CONGRESSIONAL: (1)
United States Senator – 6 Year Term
2nd District Rep in Congress – 2 Year Term

LEGISLATIVE: (1)
34th State Senator – 4 Year Term
92nd District State Rep – 2 Year Term
93rd District State Rep – 2 Year Term

COUNTY: (1)
County Road Commissioner – 6 Year Term

TOWNSHIP: (1)
Partial Terms Expiring 12/01/2028
Fulton Township Supervisor
Seville Township Clerk
Washington Township Clerk
Fulton Township Treasurer
Fulton Township Trustee
Lafayette Township Trustee

Cities:
City of Alma Commissioners – 4 Year Term
City of St. Louis Mayor – 2 Year Term
City of St. Louis Council Member – 4 Year Term

NONPARTISAN SECTION:

Judicial:
Supreme Court – 8 Year Term (2)
Court of Appeals 4th Dist. – 6 Year Term (3)
Judge 29th Circuit Court. – 6 Year Term (1)
Judge 65B District Court – 6 Year Term (1)

Community College:
Montcalm Comm. College – 6 Year Term (2)

Villages:
Village of Ashley President – 2 Year Term
Council Members – 4 Years Term & Partial
Village of Breckenridge President – 2 Year Term
Council Members – 4 Year Term & Partial
Library Board – 6 Year & Partials
Village of Perrinton President – 2 Year Term
Trustees – 4 Year Term

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS:
Various Term Lengths
Alma Public Schools
Ashley Community Schools
Breckenridge Community Schools
Fulton Schools
Ithaca Public Schools
Carson City-Crystal Area Schools
St. Louis Public Schools
Merrill Community Schools
Ovid-Elsie Area Schools
St. Johns Public Schools
Shepherd Public Schools
Vestaburg Community Schools

PROPOSALS:

State:

Proposal 2026-1
A proposal to convene a constitutional convention for the purpose of drafting a general revision of the state constitution
Shall a convention of elected delegates be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the State Constitution for presentation to the state’s voters for their approval or rejection?

Proposal 2026-2
A proposed initiated law to prohibit campaign contributions from certain regulated utilities and government contractors and apply campaign finance laws and regulations to additional types of political communications
The proposal would:
• Prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually ingovernment contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections tothese utilities/contractors from making direct or indirect campaign contributions tothose who run for or hold offices that impact them.
• Expand laws regulating spending on political communications, including those requiringdisclosing donor information, to apply to communications clearly identifying candidatesor ballot questions, even if they do not expressly advocate voting for/against them.
• Expressly apply the law requiring disclosure of who paid for political communications tointernet political communications.
Should this proposal be adopted

City:
CITY OF ALMA
MILLAGE PROPOSITION
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in the City of Alma, County of Gratiot, State of Michigan, be increased by up to 1.0000 mills ($1.00 on each $1,000.00) on state taxable value for a period of six years, 2027 through 2032, inclusive, for the capital improvements, repairs and maintenance of the Alma Public Library building and grounds within the corporate limits of the City of Alma? The amount of revenue the City of Alma will collect if this millage is approved and levied by the City in the first year is estimated to be $235,000. The revenue generated from this millage, if the proposal is passed, will be disbursed to the City of Alma.

School:

BRECKENRIDGE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL
Shall Breckenridge Community Schools, Gratiot, Midland and Saginaw Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Twelve Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,400,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:
erecting, furnishing, and equipping structures and additions to the elementary school; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings, including HVAC and school security improvements; acquiring and installing instructional technology; and preparing, developing, equipping, and improving playgrounds, parking lots, and sites; and purchasing buses?
The following is for informational purposes only:
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027 is 1.15 mill ($1.15 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is fifteen (15) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.22 mills ($2.22 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).
The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $10,955,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.
(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

MERRILL COMMUNITY SCHOOL
OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL
This proposal, if approved by the electors, would, renew, restore and extend the authority of the School District to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, which currently expires with the School District’s 2026 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks required by the Michigan Constitution of up to 2 mills. The authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State.
Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Merrill Community School District, Counties of Saginaw, Midland and Gratiot, State of Michigan, be increased, in the amount of 20 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of ten (10) years, 2027 to 2036, inclusive, with 19.6240 mills of the above 20 mills being a renewal of authorized millage which will otherwise expire with the 2027 tax levy and 0.3760 mills being a restoration of previously authorized millage lost as a result of the rollbacks required by the Michigan Constitution? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $779,321 during the 2027 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.

SHEPHERD PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOND PROPOSAL
Shall Shepherd Public Schools, Isabella, Gratiot, and Midland Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Fourteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:
remodeling and equipping school buildings, including roofing and HVAC systems; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping the elementary school playground and site?
This is for information purposes only:
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027, under current law, is 1.65 mills ($1.65 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a O mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-five (25) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.24 mills ($3.24 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).
The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds but expects estimated additional interest attributable to the bonds to be $1,468,914. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $3,800,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is approximately $15,457,294. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.
(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

ST. JOHNS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOND PROPOSAL
Shall St. Johns Public Schools, Clinton and Gratiot Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor for the purpose of:
remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings, including for school security; erecting, furnishing, and equipping a new transportation building and additions to school buildings; acquiring and installing instructional technology; erecting, equipping, preparing, developing, and improving athletic fields and facilities, playgrounds, and sites; and purchasing school buses?
The following is for informational purposes only:
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027, under current law, is 1.94 mills ($1.94 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 0.00 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty (20) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 2.25 mills ($2.25 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).
The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $1,608,798 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $387,502. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 7 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7.00 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.
The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $54,310,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $238,751.
(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

SAINT LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OPERATING MILLAGE PROPOSAL
This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance.
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Saint Louis Public Schools, Gratiot, Midland and Isabella Counties, Michigan, be increased by 3 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 7 years, 2026 to 2032, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 1.3086 mills are levied in 2026 is approximately $110,732.87 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?

Intermediate School District:

SAGINAW INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL
This proposal will allow the intermediate school district to continue to levy millage previously approved by the electors for area career and technical education programs and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of .9962 mill ($0.9962 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Saginaw Intermediate School District, Michigan, to provide funds for area career and technical education programs, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2028 to 2037, inclusive; and also be increased by .0038 mill ($0.0038 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2028 to 2037, inclusive, the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2028 is approximately $7,082,354 from local property taxes authorized herein (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy and a restoration of millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?
Angie Thompson, Gratiot County Clerk
989-875-5215
Pursuant to MCL 168.498.

In Person- Early voting is an opportunity for every voter in Gration County. The early voting will be 9 consecutive days before each election. Early voting site will be located:
Gratiot County Commission on Aging
515 S. Pine River St.
Ithaca, MI 48847
Hours of operation for the November 3, 2026 election are as follows:
Saturday, October 24, 2026: 12 pm to 8 pm
Sunday, October 25, 2026: 12 pm to 8 pm
Monday, October 26, 2026: 9 am to 5 pm
Tuesday, October 27, 2026: 9 am to 5 pm
Wednesday, October 28, 2026: 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday, October 29, 2026: 9 am to 5 pm
Friday, October 30, 2026: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday, October 31, 2026: 9 am to 5 pm
Sunday, November 1, 2026: 9 am to 5 pm
Absent voter ballots must be mailed to voters no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026. Registered voters may contact their local Clerk to obtain an application for an absent voter ballot. For any other questions relating to the election process, please contact your local clerk, listed above.
All electors who are registered with the township or city clerk in which they reside are eligible to vote at this election. Sample ballots can be found at www.mi.gov/vote. To comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), voting instructions will be available in audio format and in Braille. Arrangements for obtaining the instructions in these alternative formats can be made by contacting the township clerk in advance of the election. All polling locations are accessible for voters with disabilities.
Angie Thompson, Gratiot County Clerk
214 E. Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847
(989) 875-5215