2025 Operating Millage Renewal

Overview

a high school female teacher works with two high schools tudents On May 6, 2025, Forest Hills Public Schools (FHPS) will have an operating millage (non-homestead) proposal on the ballot. The proposal asks voters whether to renew the 18.1297 mills and increase .50 mill for Headlee restoration, if necessary. This millage is necessary to secure full funding for our students. This millage would not impact a primary residence and has been in place since 1994, when Proposal A was implemented.

What Every Taxpayer Should Know about the Operating Millage Renewal

elementary boy goes through the lunch line The proposal will appear on the May 6, 2025, ballot and includes:

Renewal of the current 18.1297 mills.
Authorization for an additional .50 mill for Headlee restoration, if needed.
This operating millage (non-homestead) is essential to secure full funding for our students and represents approximately $24 million annually. It does not affect primary residences and has been in place since the implementation of Proposal A in 1994. If this millage does not pass, the State will not replace the funding and FHPS will be forced to reduce or cut programs to offset the loss in revenue.
It IS NOT a tax on one’s primary residence and IS NOT a new tax.

Ballot Language

Forest Hills Public Schools
Operating Millage Proposal

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 full revenue per pupil foundation allowance and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Forest Hills Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be renewed by 18.1297 mills ($18.1297 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 6 years, 2026 to 2031, inclusive, and also be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 6 years, 2026 to 2031, 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 2026 is approximately $24,000,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2025 levy and the addition of millage which will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?

Q&As Regarding the Operating Millage Renewal

What does “non-homestead” mean?

Non-homestead represents second homes, industrial, commercial, and some agricultural properties. This does not include a family’s primary residence.

I thought schools no longer received funding through property taxes, so why are they talking about a millage?

Funding for school districts changed significantly in 1993-1994 when Michigan voters passed Proposal A. Under Proposal A, the State pays most of the cost, but to receive full funding, schools must levy 18 mills on non-homestead property in their district.

Is this a new tax?

No. The operating millage has been in place since the passing of Proposal A.

Didn't we just vote on this proposal?

In 2023, in addition to approving the $340 million bond proposal, the community also approved a .5 mill increase ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), a tax levied on non-homestead properties to restore the operational millage amount to the full 18 mills. The State of Michigan assumes all school districts are levying 18 mills. When, in fact, Forest Hills was not. This is because of the Headlee Amendment, which says that when property tax values rise faster than the rate of inflation, the levy amount decreases accordingly. A reduction in mills being levied results in lost revenue, which means a district does not get full per-pupil funding. In 2023, voters agreed to approve a .5 mill increase to ensure the district receives full per-pupil funding by levying the full 18 mills in 2024 and 2025.

Will my residential school taxes increase?

No. This tax is on non-homestead property and does not apply to your primary place of residence.

What if the millage is voted down?

The revenue generated from the 18 mills totals approximately $24 million annually, greater than 18% of the school district’s revenue. If this millage does not pass, the State will not replace the funding and FHPS will be forced to reduce or cut programs to offset the loss in revenue.

Can the district use bond money to cover the loss?

No. By law, funds received from bond issues are restricted to bond projects and cannot be used for general operating expenditures.

Does the district incur a cost for the May 6, 2025, election?

Yes, there will be a cost for the May 6, 2025, election. The cost is shared by other entities who have questions on the ballot for our voting precincts, if any.

Why doesn’t the district wait to put this on the November 2026 ballot so there wouldn’t be a cost?

The authorization for the operating millage expires with the 2025 levy. If the district waits, it will lose approximately $24 million in funding for the 2026-2027 school year.

Why is the district asking for a six-year funding period?

By seeking a six-year funding period, the next renewal question would tie into the November 2030 Michigan gubernatorial election. When there is a state election, the school would be charged minimal fees to have an operating millage question on the ballot.

How is FHPS funded?

School districts like FHPS receive most of their funding on a per-pupil basis. The amount a school district receives per pupil is called the Foundation Allowance. The per-pupil Foundation Allowance for Forest Hills Public Schools is currently $9,608. This represents the major portion of Forest Hills Public Schools’ revenue and is funded from two sources: 1.) Local Revenue – 18 mills collected on non-homestead property for operating millage, and 2.) State Revenue.

The Foundation Allowance funding calculation is as follows:

Student Count	No. of students = 8,850
Per-Pupil Foundation Allowance	Per student: x $9,608
Total Foundation Allowance	$85,030,000
-0- Mills Collected on Primary Residence	+ $0
18 Mills State Assumes FHPS Collects on Non-Homestead Properties (Local Revenue)	($23,900,000)
Amount Paid by the State	$61,130,000

By law, to obtain the Total Foundation Allowance, Forest Hills Public Schools must collect a local “non-homestead” millage for this portion of its budget. The State reduces its obligation to districts by this amount and only pays the balance. Therefore it is critical to continue to collect 18 mills on non-homestead properties to attain full funding.

Informational Publications for Viewing and Downloading

2-Page Flyer (PDF)

4-Page Newsletter (PDF)

General Voting Information

How do I view a sample ballot, track the status of an absentee ballot, and verify voter registration?

If you’d like to view a sample ballot for the upcoming election, track the status of an absentee ballot and verify your voter registration information, visit Michigan Voter Information Center through the Michigan Secretary of State. Information pertaining to the November election should be updated and available soon on their website.

How do I register to vote?

Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center to register to vote online. Individuals may also register in-person at their local clerk’s office with the required documentation. For assistance in obtaining the address of your local clerk, visit Michigan.gov/vote.

Are owners of property in the school district eligible to vote if they do not reside in the school district?

Owners of property are only eligible to vote if they reside within the school district boundaries.

If I rent a house, can I vote?

Yes, if you rent a house within the district of Forest Hills Public Schools you can still vote. You must be a registered voter in the city or township you are living in and live within the school district’s boundaries.

What are the requirements to be eligible to register to vote?

To register to vote, you must be:

A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
A United States citizen
At least 18 years of age (when you vote)
Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison

My child moved away to attend a college or university. Can they still vote?

College and university students have the option to register at their home address or campus address. College students may also request an absentee ballot to vote in the May 6, 2025, election. As a college student, it is critical that they register and vote as early as possible. For more information about college and university students registering to vote, click here.

I am not available on election day. Can I vote sooner? How is an absentee voter ballot obtained?

Registered voters must complete and submit the application to receive their absentee voter ballot. To vote by mail, fill out the application and sign it, and then return it to your local county clerk. For assistance in obtaining the address of your local clerk, visit Michigan.gov/vote. When filling out the application, if you check the box to be added to the permanent absentee voter list, you will get an application mailed to you before every election.

If you registered to vote after absentee voter ballot applications were mailed, applications may be obtained at Michigan.gov/vote. For additional information contact your county clerk.

What are the key dates leading up to the May 6, 2025, election?

Registering to Vote:

You can register at any time up to 8 p.m. on Election Day at your city or township clerk’s office.
If you’re registering another way, your voter registration application must be received or postmarked at least 15 days before the election.

Absentee Voting:

Absentee voter ballots are available sometime in March.
Contact your local township clerk with questions.

Where do I vote? When is election day?

Tuesday, May 6, is election day, but absentee voting can occur leading up to that date. All registered voters may cast an absentee ballot by mail.
Voters may also cast a ballot at the polling location established by their city/township. If you have questions or do not know where you vote, please contact your city/township office. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

If you are unsure of your polling location, click here for an online search of where you can vote based on your name and zip code or driver’s license: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index. You may also contact your township office.

When are poll locations open on election day?

Polling locations are open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.