Shools ask voters Tuesday for millage renewals

Center Line, Warren Woods seek OK

Center Line and Warren Woods school districts will each seek voter approval of non-homestead replacement operating millage proposals on May 2.

In both cases, the millages seek to retain the current statutory 18 mills and avoid the loss of funding due to Headlee Amendment rollbacks that inflation caused to go into effect for the first time in more than 20 years. The Headlee Amendment went into effect in 1978.

In Center Line, the existing authority of the district to levy 18 mills on all property except principal residences and 16.5 mills on principal residences is to expire at the end of 2023. The ballot proposal asks voters to approve a renewal of 18 mills to be levied on non-principal residences and no more than 15.48 mills on owner-occupied homes.

In 2022 the district levied only 11.155 mills of the authorized 16.5 mills on personal residences.

If approved, it is estimated the operating millage would provide estimated revenues of $7.6 million to Center Line Public Schools in 2024.

Center Line Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Haynes said if the operating millage in his district is not approved, it will impact per-pupil funding by 31% or $3,200 per student.

“If the operating millage renewal fails, we’ll be forced to put together a budget less 31% of our current per pupil funding,” said Haynes. “That would be devastating.

“It would impact personnel, services, bussing, extracurricular activities, almost everything that we do.”

Warren Woods Public Schools is also seeking voter approval of a replacement operating millage that allows the district to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property to make up for any Headlee rollbacks that have come into play. The millage is expected to raise $4.2 million in the first year of the levy to be used for general operating purposes.

According to documen

tation posted by officials on the district website, the original 18 mills has been rolled back to 16.2 mills, which caused a loss of $400,000 this school year.

In addition to the millage proposal, Center Line is seeking approval of a $17 million school improvement

bond proposal for upgrades to school buildings, parking lots and technology. Specific improvements include adding classrooms at Crothers Elementary; upgrading the fire alarm system at Wolfe Middle School; and replacing sections on the roof at Center Line High School.

The estimated millage that will be levied to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is 1.59 mills.