Non-Homestead Election - May 6, 2025

2025 Non-Homestead Operating Millage Renewal

On May 6, 2025, Caledonia Community Schools will ask voters to renew the Non-Homestead Operating Millage. This renewal is vital to maintain critical funding for student programs, staffing, school safety, and essential services.

Fast Facts:

This is a renewal, not a new tax.
This millage does NOT impact primary residences or qualifying agricultural properties – applies only to businesses, rental properties, second homes, and commercial properties.
All districts in the State are required to levy 18 mills to receive full per-pupil funding.
These funds make up approximately 22% of the district’s operating budget – without it, over $15.6 million in funding would be lost.
The district is also asking for an additional 0.5 mills to guard against future Headlee Rollbacks, ensuring full funding is maintained.

Community Information Sessions

Join Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer to learn more and ask questions:

March 18 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Caledonia Resource Center (New Cal Community Center)
March 26 | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Caledonia Administration Office (light lunch provided)
March 28 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Caledonia Resource Center (New Cal Community Center)

Additional Sessions Added:

April 22 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Caledonia Resource Center (New Cal Community Center)
April 29 | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Caledonia Resource Center (New Cal Community Center)

Why This Matters

If the millage renewal does not pass, Caledonia Community Schools would lose a significant portion of its funding, resulting in drastic cuts to essential services, staffing, and student programs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Understanding Proposal A & School Funding

Q1: What is the Non-Homestead Millage?
The Non-Homestead Millage is a renewal of an existing tax required by Proposal A, Michigan’s school funding system. It applies to businesses, rental properties, and vacation homes—not primary residences or qualifying agricultural properties.

Q2: Why is this millage important?
Michigan law requires school districts to levy 18 mills on non-homestead properties in order to receive their full per-pupil funding from the state. Without this millage, Caledonia Community Schools would lose approximately $15.6 million annually—resulting in major cuts to student programs, staffing, school safety, and essential services.

Q3: Is this a new funding system?
No. This is the same system that has been in place since 1994 when Proposal A was approved by the state’s voters. Ever since then, our school district has been required to levy 18 mills on non-homestead property. Approval of this question would not result in any change to the millage rate being charged on non-homestead property.

Q4: Does every Michigan school district need to ask for this 18 mills?
Yes, if they wish to receive full funding. Without it, a district would face a reduction from the State in the student foundation grant.

Q5: Does this tax apply to my home?
No. This millage only applies to non-homestead properties such as businesses, rental properties, and vacation homes. This tax does not apply to primary residences or qualifying agricultural properties.

Q6: Can the district ever levy more than 18 mills of non-homestead millage?
No. State law caps the non-homestead levy at 18 mills.

Ballot Information

Q7: What is on the May 6, 2025, ballot?
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 full revenue per pupil foundation allowance and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Caledonia Community Schools, Kent, Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, be renewed by 18.7741 mills ($18.7741 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2026 to 2030, inclusive, and also be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2026 to 2030, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2026 is approximately $16,910,000 (this millage is to renew millage that will expire with the 2025 levy and to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?

Q8: Why do I see 18 mills, 0.5 mills, and 18.7741 mills on the ballot?
The Headlee Amendment requires school districts to reduce their millage rate when property values increase faster than inflation—a process known as a Headlee Rollback. To protect against this, the ballot includes 18.7741 mills plus an additional 0.5 mill, providing a buffer to ensure the district can continue collecting the full 18 mills needed for funding. However, CCS is legally prohibited from collecting more than 18 mills, even if the ballot language includes higher amounts for rollback protection.

Q9: Why is the district asking for more than 18 mills if it can’t collect more than that?
When district property values rise faster than inflation, the Non-Homestead Millage is rolled back (reduced). In 2019, voters approved an additional 1.8 mills to guard against the loss of revenue due to a Headlee rollback. Within 3 years, half of that authorization was used. Given current rates of rollback, projections show that before the end of the next five years the rest of the 1.8 mills will have been used. Built into the proposal is an additional 0.5 mills, providing us more room to guard against potential future Headlee reductions. It is important to note that the district can NEVER collect more than 18 mills.

Q10: What does a 'Yes' vote mean?
A 'Yes' vote permits the district to continue levying 18 mills for five years on non-homestead properties and ensures CCS will keep receiving full per-pupil funding.

Q11: What does a 'No' vote mean?
A 'No' vote means the district would lose a significant portion of its General Fund operating revenue, as it would no longer be allowed to levy the 18 mills on non-homestead properties, resulting in a loss of approximately $15.6 million annually (22% of 2024-25 general fund revenues).

Why Do We Need This?

Q12: Why is CCS asking for this renewal?
Since 1994, the state has required school districts to collect a tax from non-homestead properties to fund school operations. This millage represents approximately 22% of CCS’s total general fund budget, making it essential for maintaining instructional programs, staffing, transportation, and other daily operations.

Q13: What happens if the millage is not renewed?
Without this millage, CCS would lose approximately $15.6 million annually. Drastic cuts to student programs, staffing, and essential services would be required.

Q14: My kids are grown and no longer in school. Why should I care about this proposal?
Caledonia Community Schools has a well-earned reputation for academic excellence—our students consistently outperform state and county averages on state assessments, and we’re home to two National Blue Ribbon Schools: Dutton Elementary and Caledonia Elementary. This proposal is essential for maintaining instructional programs, staffing, transportation, and other daily operations.

Impact on Businesses & Homeowners

Q15: How does this affect business owners?
Businesses are currently paying 18 mills. This amount would remain unchanged. A renewal would ensure stable funding for CCS without any additional tax burden.

Q:16 How much will this cost homeowners?
Nothing. The Non-Homestead Operating Millage does not apply to primary residences and qualifying agricultural properties.

Spending & Budget

Q17: How is the Non-Homestead Operating Millage used?
Funds generated by the 18-mill levy support CCS’s day-to-day operations, including:

Instructional programs and classroom materials
Teacher and staff salaries
Student services and support programs
Transportation
Utilities and building maintenance

Q18: How is this different from bond funds?
Bond dollars are used for capital projects like school renovations and construction, and cannot be used for operational expenses. The Non-Homestead Operating Millage funds daily operations and instructional needs.

Voting Information

Q19: When is the election?
The Non-Homestead Millage Renewal will be on the May 6, 2025, ballot.

Q20: Where can I register to vote?
You can register online or in person at your local clerk’s office. Visit www.michigan.gov/sos for more information.

Q21: Where do I vote?
Find your polling location at www.michigan.gov/vote.

Q22: Where can I find more information?
Visit www.calschools.org/nonhomestead or contact Caledonia Community Schools for additional details.

Handouts

One Page Informational Handout (Updated March 27)
Special Edition Cal Communicator

Polling Information

For more information about your polling location for the upcoming election, please visit the Michigan Voter Information Center (www.michigan.gov/vote) or contact your local township office. We have also listed the local precincts below for your convenience.

Key Election Dates: