PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF PETOSKEY OPERATING MILLAGE 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. The remaining 3 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a reduction required by the "Headlee" amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction.


Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in the Public Schools of Petoskey, Emmet and Charlevoix Counties, Michigan, be increased by 21 mills ($21.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 8 years, 2027 to 2034, 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 2027 is approximately $25,620,307 (this is a replacement of millage that expired with the 2026 tax levy) 

What it is: Funding for day-to-day school operations (teachers, programs, etc.)

Applies to: Non-homestead properties (such as businesses, rental properties, and second homes). Primary residences are exempt.

Type: Renewal / Replacement

 Impact on primary homeowners: None

Summary: This keeps school funding stable. If it fails, schools lose operating revenue.

 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF PETOSKEY SINKING FUND MILLAGE PROPOSAL

This proposal renews 1.3914 mills of building and site sinking fund millage previously approved by the electors and restores the portion of that 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 in the Public Schools of Petoskey, Emmet and Charlevoix Counties, Michigan, be renewed by 1.3914 mills ($1.3914 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) and also be increased by .1086 mill ($0.1086 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a total of 1.5 mills, for a period of 8 years, 2027 to 2034, inclusive, to continue to provide for a sinking fund for the purchase of real estate for sites for and the construction or repair of school buildings; for school security improvements; for the acquisition or upgrading of technology; and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2027 is approximately $3,728,636

What it is: Funds for buildings, safety, and infrastructure (not salaries)

Type: Mostly renewal + slight increase. Increase detail: From ~1.39 mills → 1.5 mills. That’s about 0.1086 mills increase

 What that means in real dollars: Roughly $10–$11 more per year per $100,000 of taxable value

Summary: Mostly continuing what exists. Small increase for improvements and maintenance.

CHARLEVOIX-EMMET INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MILLAGE PROPOSAL

This proposal will increase the levy by the intermediate school district of millage for area career and technical education programs to a level previously approved by the electors.

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes in Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District, Michigan, for area career and technical education programs be increased by 1 mill ($1.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2026 to 2029, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2026 is approximately $8,178,239 from local property taxes authorized herein (this is a replacement of millage that expired with the 2025 tax levy)

What it is: Career & Technical Education (skilled trades, career training)

Type: Continuation (expired millage)

Applies to: All properties

Important nuance: This is not brand new, it has been in place since 1996, but it did expire on 12/31/2025 so: If approved → taxes for 2026 continue at the previous level

Estimated impact: About $100/year per $100,000 of taxable value

Summary: Restores/continues funding for workforce training that expired on 12/31/2025

RENEWAL OR NEW MILLAGE REQUEST? Every four years since 1996, voters in Char-Em ISD districts have approved funding for Career and Technical Education. The above millage proposal appears on the May 5, 2026 ballot. The proposal is worded as an “increase” and not a “renewal.” The previous levy, approved in 2022, expired on December 31, 2025. That means currently there is no levy for career tech on propoerties within Char-Em ISD, which makes the millage request on May 5 a “new” levy, if approved. Each millage request has been worded this way since the first renewal in 2000. The proposed 2026 millage remains the same as what was approved in 2022: 1.0 mill. If approved, that amount would once again be levied to fund K-12 career and technical education throughout the ISD’s 11 public school districts, two charter academies, and five parochial schools.

To learn more about the millage and how career tech dollars are used, please visit www.charemisdcareertech.org or email Char-Em ISD Superintendent Scott Koziol at koziols@charemisd.org