Waterford School District — Replacement Non-Homestead Operating Millage Proposal (Oakland County)

What it does

This proposal would replace, restore and extend the authority of the School District to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property (principally industrial and commercial real property and residential rental property) which currently expires with the School District’s 2033 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property in the event of future Headlee rollbacks of up to 4 mills. The authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State. Personal residences are exempt from this levy. Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Waterford School District, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, be increased to the amount of 22 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of ten (10) years, 2026 to 2035 inclusive, with 17.6749 mills of the above 22 mills being a replacement of the authorized operating millage which will otherwise expire on December 31, 2033 and 0.3251 mills of the above 22 mills being a restoration of the millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $17,701,778 during the 2026 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.

A YES vote means

Waterford School District could levy up to 18 mills on non-homestead property (mainly businesses and rentals) for ten years, 2026 to 2035, replacing millage that expires December 31, 2033 and restoring 0.3251 mills, raising about $17,701,778 in 2026; primary homes are exempt.

A NO vote means

Waterford School District's non-homestead millage would not be replaced and extended, and would still expire December 31, 2033.

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

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

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

Background

In Michigan, school districts must levy 18 mills on non-homestead property (mainly businesses, rental and other property that is not a principal residence) to receive their full per-pupil foundation allowance from the state; principal residences are exempt from this levy.

The Waterford School District Board of Education placed this proposal on the ballot; according to the ballot language, the current authorization expires December 31, 2033, and the proposal would authorize up to 22 mills (18 levied) for 2026 through 2035, replacing 17.6749 mills and restoring 0.3251 mill lost to required rollbacks.

The extra authorization above 18 mills would let the district keep levying 18 mills if future Headlee rollbacks of up to 4 mills occur; the ballot language estimates $17,701,778 in 2026.

Put on the ballot by Waterford School District Board of Education (2026).

From official source.

Next elections here

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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
• Royal Oak Schools — School Improvement Bond Proposition

All Oakland County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Waterford School District mean?

Waterford School District could levy up to 18 mills on non-homestead property (mainly businesses and rentals) for ten years, 2026 to 2035, replacing millage that expires December 31, 2033 and restoring 0.3251 mills, raising about $17,701,778 in 2026; primary homes are exempt.

What does a NO vote on Waterford School District mean?

Waterford School District's non-homestead millage would not be replaced and extended, and would still expire December 31, 2033.

How many votes does Waterford School District 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 Waterford School District?

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.