Clarkston school officials confirmed they are looking to initiate a long-term override to the Headlee amendment.
Clarkston voters approved the district’s 18 mill operational tax in June 1996. In June 2004, voters approved a second operational millage of 4.5 mills. Both of these millages expire this coming December.
According to Director of Communications and Marketing Anita Banach, the Clarkston Schools Board of Education would like to initiate a long-term override to Headlee that will keep the 18 mills from rolling back. The change means voters would not need to approve the override every year.
Although no time frame is set, Banach expects the request to ask for five to ten years. She emphasized that the millage request would not go over the state cap of 18 mills.
Banach said she is uncertain whether the board will come forward requesting a renewal of both millages or just one. However, she continued to emphasize the district will not go beyond the allowed 18 mills.
Currently, the 18 mills for operation (as capped by Proposal A) have rolled back to 14.2493. The second millage has rolled back to 3.7507 mills.
These millages combine to form the 18 mill maximum allowed by the state with the roll backs. Residents and business owners also pay an additional 7 mills for past debt, which includes the school district bonds.
The Headlee amendment mandates that local governments rollback millage rates whenever property values rise faster than inflation. Proposal A capped the millage at 18 mills for non-homestead and 6 mills for homesteads.
Homeowners in the Clarkston School District pay the state required 6 mills, plus the 7 mills for past debt.
A home with a state equalized value of $100,000 and a millage of 13 would pay roughly $1,300 a year in school tax. A non-homestead or business with a state equalized value of $100,000 at 25 mills pays roughly $2,500 a year.
Clarkston School district home and business owner Ken Winship said he would support the millage request.
‘I have no problem supporting the school district. I think the school board is doing a wonderful job,? he said.
Winship, the owner of Winship Studio, was outbid for school pictures at the July 11 school board meeting by national chain Herff Jones, a Hartland-based company.
Winship said the loss in business was due to the confusion of the bidding process.
‘Going outside the community is not what I was upset about, what I was upset about was that they were not comparing apples to apples,? said Winship, who was displeased by the process not the decision.
‘I will say at the same time if all they can look at is the bottom line for lots of prints, they did the right thing,? he added.
Banach stated that the school board is looking to come forward with a proposal for Spring 2006.