November 5, 2024 ELECTION INFORMATION
Non-Homestead Operating Millage Renewal
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, voters in the Tri County Area Schools district will be asked to once again renew the district’s Operating Millage. This will be a two-year renewal of the Non-Homestead millage, for the 2025 and 2026 tax years.
This proposal will NOT impact the taxes on owner-occupied homes in our district. Only second or rental homes, commercial properties, and industrial properties are affected.
The non-homestead operating millage makes up an estimated $2,803,596 million, nearly 11% of the Tri County Area Schools’ roughly $26.1 million annual budget for the 2024-2025 school year.
The non-homestead millage is essential to maintaining the current programs offered by the district. If this funding is lost, the district will lose a portion of the Foundation Allowance, which cannot be replaced with any other funding source. While primary households are not affected by this millage, state law requires a district-wide election to approve the millage.
To Summarize:
- The Non-Homestead Operating millage is part of the basic school funding system in Michigan.
- Primary homeowners do not pay this millage ($0 per year).
- Renewal of this millage would allow the District to continue to receive the full per-pupil Foundation Allowance.
Facts:
- The current authorization to levy a non-homestead millage expires December 31, 2024.
- Voting YES will allow TCAS to continue to levy the required 18 mills on non-homestead property.
- In the 2024-2025 school year the state expects the District to collect an estimated $2,803,596.
- In the 2024-2025 school year, the non-homestead operating millage accounts for $1,698 of the per-pupil foundation allowance.
- In 2024-2025 the non-homestead operating millage accounts for 11% of the total per-pupil foundation allowance.
- If this proposal does not pass, the State of Michigan will not replace the $2,803,596 of funding and TCAS will be forced to significantly reduce expenditures to offset the loss, possibly including educational programs, extra-curricular activities, athletics, transportation, etc.
What you will see on the ballot - Official Ballot Language
TRI COUNTY AREA SCHOOLS
OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Tri County Area Schools, Montcalm, Kent and Newaygo Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 2 years, 2025 and 2026, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2025 is approximately $2,803,596 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy)
TRI COUNTY AREA SCHOOLS
OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL
EXEMPTING PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE
AND OTHER PROPERTY EXEMPTED BY LAW
18 MILLS FOR 2 YEARS
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TCAS Board of Education Biennial Election
Tri County Area Schools biennial school election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 to elect Board of Education members to fill three (3) six-year terms and one (1) partial four-year term.
Candidates for these positions are:
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
After reviewing the information provided, if you have additional questions regarding the TCAS Operating Millage Renewal please contact the Educational Service Center at 616.636.5454.
Important Dates & Voting Information
Important Dates for November 5, 2024 Election:
- Saturday, September 21 - Absent voter ballots must be available for issuance to voters
- Monday, October 21 - Last day to register to vote by mail; voters may register in person with the required documentation through Tuesday, November 5 (election day).
- Saturday, October 26 - Mandatory early in-person voting begins.
- Tuesday, November 5 - Election Day - polls open 7 am - 8 pm
- Tuesday, November 5 - Election day registrants may obtain and vote an absentee ballot in person in the clerk's office or cast a ballot at the polling location established by their city/township.
Additional Information: Visit michigan.gov/vote to view your sample ballot, verify your voter registration, or contact your local Election Official.
Voter Pre-Registration
Who Can Pre-Register
Beginning in 2024, 16 and 17 year old Michigan residents can preregister to vote under state law. Preregister online, by mail, or automatically at the Secretary of State's office when applying for a Graduated Driver's License.
Students who are 16 years old may pre-register to vote by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center
Michigan Voter Information Center
The Law
Section 9 of PA 258 of 2023 states:
(9) The secretary of state and the department of education shall annually coordinate a public education and outreach campaign to ensure that individuals who are at lest 16 years of age but less than 18 years of age, and who are eligible to preregister to vote under this section or who are eligible to register to vote under section 492, are informed of the opportunity and available methods to preregister to vote or register to vote. In addition, the department of education shall ensure that materials for voter registration and preregistration to vote are available to pupils in each public high school in this state.
