Onaway Area Community School board getting word out about millage

by Angie Asam-Staff Writer

Onaway Area Community Schools (OACS) will be looking to renew its operating millage in a special election May 7. The board of education approved some literature provided by superintendent Rod Fullerton Tuesday evening that will help the board get the word out to voters about the millage.

“The ballot language is confusing. I don’t know why ballot language has to be so confusing. We need to make this clear before voters go to the polls. This isn’t something unique to Onaway, every school in the state does this. This millage is how we provide for our foundation allowance,” said Fullerton.

It is important for voters to note that the millage proposal is not a new millage nor an increase in property tax. It is the renewal of an existing millage for ten years. The ballot language states that the district could levy 18.654 mills, however in reality the district cannot levy more than 18 mils. The additional percentage is added to protect the district under the Headlee amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

“This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of 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,” states the ballot language.

When the state figures out a per pupil funding allowance for the district it automatically assumes that the district is collecting 18 mills under an operating millage and subtracts that amount from the funding it sends to the district. “The state formula is based on us collecting 18 mills. They figure out what that is, divide it by the number of students and subtract it from the amount we are given per student and pay us that remaining amount,” said Fullerton. Roughly half of the district’s per pupil foundation allowance funding comes from the state while this millage provides the other half. The millage generates about $2.5 million per year for the district’s operating costs. “Without this millage the school doesn’t exist,” said Fullerton.

“Headlee has affected this millage for several years. This millage will continue to protect the school by allowing a full 18 mils per year.

Without it, the school could actually receive less than our full foundation per student, which puts us at a disadvantage to every school around us,” said Fullerton.

IF THE millage is not approved in May the district would have one more chance to have it voted on in November before the current millage, which was approved 10 years ago, expires. This renewal would be for an additional 10 years and allow the district to keep collecting those operating funds. Without the millage the district would be in an even more difficult budget situation and likely could not operate without the funding.

Board members will be discussing the millage with voters at any chance they get as they believe getting the word out is the only chance they have at getting the millage approved.