Voters in two county schools districts supported millage requests this week.
Overall, voter turnout was a dismal 26%, but supporters outnumbered opponents overall by nearly a 2:1 margin.
Leland School voters supported its annual request Tuesday for a one-year operating millage renewal of 10.9013 to be levied on all non-Agricultural and non-Homestead properties.
“This vote is a powerful reminder of how much our community cares about its school,” Leland Superintendent Ryan Huppert said. “We do not take that support for granted. The annual operating millage is vital to the existence of Leland School and we are grateful for the trust our voters have placed in us.”
The levy, approved 725-273, is expected to generate $6,004,256 when collected later this year.
Voters in the Suttons Bay School District also supported an extra-voted millage, but by a slimmer margin. 780562. The 3-year proposal to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills on non-homestead and non-qualified properties.
“The special election result was a very positive outcome for Suttons Bay Public Schools, Suttons Bay Superintendent Casey Petz said. “Approval of the operating millage proposal restores the district’s ability to levy up to 18 mills on second homes and commercial properties in our district.
“We are grateful for the continued support of our voters and we certainly appreciate the faith and trust they place in their local public school district. We would like to emphasize that this approval does not increase the taxes on any principal residence property (homestead property) in our district and raises an estimated $110,664 on non-homestead properties in the 2026 tax levy.
This represents an increase of 4 mills and will be used for school operations. If the millage is approved and .3711 mills are levied, it is expected to generate $110,664.
Passage of the requests is required for the school districts to receive state funds.
Schools are bound by state law to adopt of budget annually by July 1.
