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Transparency Report
The Operating Millage Proposal is an important part of the funding Kenowa Hills Public Schools relies on to provide programs, services, and resources for students each day.
The operating millage generates more than $17 million annually and represents approximately 30% of the district’s day-to-day operating budget.
This funding supports:
The operating millage does not apply to a homeowner’s principal residence - which is exempt. It applies only to non-homestead properties, including:
The current authorization for this millage is expiring. This proposal would authorize the collection of the 18 mill operating millage in tax years 2027 to 2036. Michigan’s school funding system requires that districts collect the full 18 mills on nonhomestead property (i.e. businesses) in order for a district to receive the full revenue per pupil foundation allowance.
If the proposal is not approved, KHPS would face a significant loss of funding, making it difficult to maintain current student programs and services. VOTE ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 3, 2026.
What is an Operating Millage?
It is a local property tax that school districts are required to levy by the state in order to receive their full per-pupil foundation allowance (state aid).
What Would the Millage Proposal Cost a Homeowner?
Nothing! A homeowner's primary residence is exempt from the 18 mill non-homestead millage continuation. There is NO IMPACT on homeowners' primary residences.
Would This Increase Taxes on Non-Homestead Properties?
No. This authorization would allow the continuation of the millage levy, so non-homestead properties would pay the same millage rate that was levied in 2026.
What Does Non-Homestead Mean?
A non-homestead property is any property that is not a primary residence or qualified agricultural property, such as a business, investment property, vacation home, and rental property.
What is the Money Used For?
This 18 mill non-homestead levy generates over $17 million in revenue for KHPS. This portion of our operating budget is used to cover day-to-day district expenses such as staff salaries and benefits, building supplies, student support services, programming, and other operational costs. This millage is critical for our district budget, not only this year but every year. Without the passage of this millage proposal, it would be difficult to maintain programming at current levels.
What Happens If The Millage Does Not Get Voter Approval?
The State of Michigan will not replace the lost funding if this millage is not approved. 18 mills must be levied in order for the district to receive the full revenue per pupil foundation allowance. This revenue accounts for roughly 30% of our district’s overall day-to-day operating budget.
Why Does The Ballot Say 20 Mills If This Is Really 18?
Michigan law allows the ballot language to request authority for more than 18 mills to ensure that the district can levy the statutory maximum rate of 18 mills should Headlee rollbacks occur. However, the millage levy is legally capped at 18 mills for school operating purposes. The additional 2 mills provide a cushion that allows the district to restore millage authority lost over time because of the Headlee Amendment. The district cannot collect more than the amount allowed by law - 18 mills, for operating millage.
Why Do We Have To Vote On It?
The existing authority to levy this millage expires with the 2026 tax levy. In order to continue levying the full 18 mills, voters must authorize the millage. State law requires school districts to periodically ask voters to restore that authority so they can continue collecting the full operating millage that funds local schools.
When Will The Proposal Appear On The Ballot?
The operating millage proposal will appear on the November 3, 2026, ballot.
This proposal will allow the school district to continue 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. The remaining 2 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction.
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 Kenowa Hills Public Schools, Kent and Ottawa Counties, Michigan, be increased by 20 mills ($20.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2027 to 2036, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2027 is approximately $17,226,786 (this authorization would allow the district to continue to levy millage that expired with the 2026 tax levy)?
Election Information - Vote November 3, 2026
Kent County Election Information
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