By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Allen Park Public Schools will ask voters to approve a Headlee non-homestead restoration millage proposal during the March 10 presidential primary election.
City Administrator Mark Kibby said at the Feb. 11 City Council meeting that APPS officials will attend the Feb. 25 council meeting, which is televised locally, to explain the ballot proposal to residents.
The proposal, if approved, would allow the school district to return the non-homestead tax levy to 18 mills for all commercial, business and rental properties, vacant land and second-home properties.
Taxes on a primary residence would not be affected. The current non-homestead millage is 16.9 mills.
The proposal is for 4 additional mills for three years on non-homestead property. However, the statutory rate and collectable limit is 18 mills.
The Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution requires a millage rollback when the increase in existing property values is greater than the rate of inflation.
The APPS notes on the district website that the Headlee reduction resulted in a $189,527 loss of revenue to the school district budget for the combined 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years.
The district site concludes that if the millage reduction continues annually, the $189,527 yearly loss will increase, as well.
The 4-mill proposal would add $4 to each $1,000 of taxable value for three years, for 2020, 2021 and 2022, if approved, and would be for school district operating expenses. It notes that $102,871 would be collected for 2020 if the millage is approved.
One mill is equal to a $100 tax for each $100,000 in taxable value for non-homestead properties.
The current gap in funding, based on a non-homestead taxable base of $94.4 million, is $1.6 million at 16.9 mills, and $1.7 at 18 mills, or an approximate $100,000 funding gap.
Any increase in revenue would go directly into the general operating fund, school officials say, and will be earmarked for expenditures which they say will make “the biggest impact on our students.”
Feb. 24 is the last day to register to vote in the March 10 election by mail or online. People can register to vote with the city clerk, in person, though 8 p.m. March 10 with proof of residency.
Absentee ballots also are available through the city clerk’s office, or online, at Michigan.gov/sos.
For more information about the Allen Park Public Schools Headlee non-homestead restoration millage ballot proposal, go here.