Royal Oak Schools — School Improvement Bond Proposition (Oakland County)

What it does

Shall the Royal Oak Schools, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed One Hundred Sixty-Five Million Dollars ($165,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, to pay the cost of the following projects to create a modern learning environment for students and for health, safety, security, energy, conservation and other purposes: • Remodeling, equipping, re-equipping, furnishing, re-furnishing school buildings, athletic fields and other facilities; • Erecting and completing additions to school buildings and other facilities; • Acquiring and installing instructional technology infrastructure and equipment in school buildings and other facilities; and • Preparing, developing and improving sites at school buildings, athletic fields and other facilities? The annual debt millage required to retire all bonds of the School District currently outstanding and proposed pursuant to this ballot is expected to be at or below 2.20 mills which is a 0.00 mill increase from the 2.20 mills of annual debt millage levied in 2026. The maximum number of years any series of bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of refunding, is not more than fifteen (15) years; the estimated millage that will be levied to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is 1.41 mills (which is equal to $1.41 per $1,000 of taxable value); and the estimated simple average annual millage that will be required to retire each series of bonds is 2.05 mills annually ($2.05 per $1,000 of taxable value). (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for teacher, administrator or employee salaries, repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses.)

A YES vote means

Royal Oak Schools could borrow up to $165,000,000 in bonds of up to 15 years to remodel and add to buildings and athletic fields and buy technology, with total debt millage expected to stay at or below 2.20 mills (no increase).

A NO vote means

Royal Oak Schools would not borrow this $165,000,000.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Oakland County ballots

• Birmingham Public Schools — School Facilities and Safety Improvement Bond Proposal
• Farmington Public School District — School Improvement Bond Proposition
• Ferndale Public Schools — Operating Millage Replacement Proposal
• Lake Orion Community Schools — School Improvement Bond Proposition
• The Lamphere Schools — School Improvement Bond Proposition
• Waterford School District — Replacement Non-Homestead Operating Millage Proposal

All Oakland County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Royal Oak Schools mean?

Royal Oak Schools could borrow up to $165,000,000 in bonds of up to 15 years to remodel and add to buildings and athletic fields and buy technology, with total debt millage expected to stay at or below 2.20 mills (no increase).

What does a NO vote on Royal Oak Schools mean?

Royal Oak Schools would not borrow this $165,000,000.

How many votes does Royal Oak Schools need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Royal Oak Schools?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.