OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. \u2013 In two months, Oakland County voters will decide whether to raise taxes to boost funding for public school students.<\/p>\n
A proposed regional millage increase on the August primary ballot would generate around an additional $781 per student each year for the next six years. <\/p>\n
The $1.5-mill tax would apply countywide.<\/p>\n
Under the proposal, property owners would pay an extra $1.50 for every $1,000 of a home\u2019s taxable value.<\/p>\n
The county said that if your home is worth $200,000 and has a taxable value of $100,000, you\u2019d pay $150 in property tax before any income tax considerations.<\/p>\n
School leaders said this vote is coming at a time when inflation and rising costs are outpacing what districts receive from the state.<\/p>\n
Ken Gutman, the superintendent of Oakland Schools, said the additional money would be used at the discretion of the school districts.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see districts lowering class size, providing additional support, counselors, [and] psychologists,\u201d Gutman said. \u201cYou can also see them backfilling the budget depending on what comes out of Lansing,\u201d<\/p>\n
The superintendent acknowledged there is never a good time to raise taxes, but noted that some surrounding counties have similar regional millages, and if Oakland County had one, it could help them remain competitive in retaining staff and students.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the proposal frame it as an investment in children and the broader community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is for our kids,\u201d parent Katie Belliotti said. \u201cThis is for the future of our community, and if we\u2019re not doing everything to help them succeed, then what are we doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
Belliotti and her sister, Kelly Zizelman, have children in Oakland County public schools, specifically the Waterford School District. <\/p>\n
Their family\u2019s pride in their schools has translated into support for most education-related initiatives, including this one.<\/p>\n
But not everyone is on board.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur taxes are going up year after year significantly, and it\u2019s not just taxes,\u201d parent Shantelle Brast said. \u201cWe all know everything is becoming more expensive. For people who don\u2019t have kids, why should they have consequences for it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Brast said she believes schools need more funding, but argues it should not fall on parents like her or residents without children. <\/p>\n
Especially at a time when many are struggling to keep up with the cost of living.<\/p>\n
Both supporters and opponents agree on one point: they want voters to be informed before casting a ballot.<\/p>\n