Following a blockbuster 12 months for poll measures in 2022, this 12 months’s normal election is fairly quiet. Detroiters will see two native questions on the very finish of the poll. Each are millage questions.
Right here’s what it’s essential know concerning the proposal to resume the Wayne County Regional Enhancement Millage.
What’s Wayne County’s Regional Enhancement Millage?
The millage gives funding to county colleges by way of the intermediate faculty district, Wayne RESA, as a complement to state funding. Funds are shared amongst all 33 Wayne County faculty districts and greater than 90 eligible public faculty academies primarily based on pupil enrollment. Voters initially handed this millage in 2016 and renewed it in 2020 to final by way of the tip of 2027. It’s up for one more six-year renewal by way of 2033.
Wayne RESA says colleges have used millage funding to scale back class sizes, enhance security and wellness companies, and rent extra lecturers, amongst different issues. In 2018, the company stated Detroit Public Faculties Neighborhood District used the funds to stabilize its price range and improve workers salaries.
How a lot would this millage renewal price me?
If renewed, this millage will tax property house owners at a price of about 1.98 mills per 12 months for six years, beginning in 2028. Which means, for instance, a house owner whose home is value $100,000 ($50,000 taxable worth) would proceed to pay about $8 monthly.
Who’s in favor of the millage renewal?
A number of superintendents, together with faculty board members and union officers, are urging voters to approve the millage renewal.
Some faculty boards opposed the millage in 2016 as a result of their communities paid in additional than their districts received again. However there doesn’t look like an organized opposition to this 12 months’s measure.
Shannon Mackie is a contract author for Outlier Media.
