2024 Non-Homestead Millage Renewal

Proposal A, approved in 1994, funds Michigan public schools. It shifted a large portion of funding from local property taxes to a sales tax increase and a state education tax on non-homestead properties. However, a part of school funding still comes from local property taxes.

So what is a non-homestead property? Any property that is not a primary residence or qualified agricultural property, such as a:

• Business
• Investment property
• Vacation home
• Rental property

To receive full State Foundation Grant funding, school districts must levy 18 mills on non-homestead properties. This would cost $1,800 per year for the owner of a non-homestead property with a taxable value of $100,000.

This is not a new tax. The proposal would renew an existing 18 mill tax and includes protection against Headlee rollback. You do not pay this tax for your owned primary home, just for any non-homestead property you own.

Based on Hamilton's tax base, the millage generates $5.9 million for the district's schools.

On May 7, 2024 we will ask the Hamilton community to vote on the non-homestead millage renewal.

The proposal for a four-year millage renewal of the non-homestead 18 mills, plus a little less than 1 mill that may only be used to restore the 18 mills if Headlee rollbacks occur.

If the millage is not approved, the district would lose $5.9 million per year beginning on July 1, 2025. The state doesn't replace this and Hamilton Community Schools would be forced to make cuts to programs and support services.

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 Hamilton Community Schools, Allegan County, Michigan, be renewed by 18.4927 mills ($18.4927 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2025 to 2028, inclusive, and also be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2025 to 2028, 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 2025 is approximately $5,943,255 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2024 levy and a restoration of millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?

Any registered voters who live in the Hamilton Community Schools district boundaries are eligible to vote on this non-homestead millage proposal.

Please visit www.michigan.gov/vote to determine your voting location.