As Clarkston school officials grapple with long-term budget concerns, a regular question has returned:
How shall the district seek renewal of the ‘non-homestead? property tax for local school operations?
That is another issue likely to be debated on Monday, Feb. 9, and it was discussed briefly at the Jan. 19 board meeting.
‘We have to do something in 2004,? according to Bruce Beamer, executive director for business and financial services, referring to this year’s expiration of about 3.4475 mills of the special tax.
The ‘non-homestead? levy has been part of Michigan reality since voters approved ‘Proposal A? in 1994. The then-overhaul of public school financing included a state-wide 6-mill tax on all property, plus a ‘local? 18 mill tax on business, commercial, rental and ‘second-residence? property.
Although the extra 18 mills does not affect ‘primary residences? (formerly referred to as ‘homesteads?), all voters participate in elections to renew the non-homestead tax.
Clarkston voters last approved the full 18-mill renewal in 1996, then school officials opted to seek a partial renewal each year, both to counteract Headlee Amendment rollbacks and avoid having the full 18 mills on a single ballot.
The latter, however, is precisely what must happen in 2005 unless there is a different option presented in the 2004 election. Beamer said he had no specific recommendations at the time, but wanted trustees to consider various options.
‘My fear is, some year everybody’s going to be angry at something and vote against the 18 mills, and we’ll be out $6.1 million,? he said.