MASON, Mich. — On the May 7, 2019 ballot, Mason residents will be asked to consider the renewal of a 10- year operating millage which was passed in 2010. The millage, which will expire with the 2019 levy, is an 18-mill non-homestead property tax millage. This non-homestead operating millage is not paid by homeowners on their primary residences. This is a renewal of a tax paid on non-homestead property including industrial, commercial, business, rental and second homes.
This millage is not connected in any way to the bond that was passed in the fall of 2017 nor the sinking fund millage that was passed in spring of 2016. This operating fund millage is connected to State Foundation Grant funding only.
Superintendent Ronald Drzewicki noted, “This is not a new tax. It represents a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2019 levy and a restoration of millage lost because of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment.” He added, “this amendment limits increases to the rate of inflation and automatically “rolls back” the tax millage rate.”
Legally, schools must levy 18 mills on non-homestead properties across the state. One mill represents $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value on property. Without this non-homestead millage renewal, all of the Mason Public Schools’ operating millage would be reduced to zero when the current authorization expires with the 2019 levy. The 18 mills is projected to provide $3,500,000 of tax revenues.
Drzewicki said, “renewal of the millage will give the district the continued ability to collect the full state funding for our schools. These dollars are critical for the operations of the district.”
