The Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor (the District) is authorized by State law to levy a voter-approved millage of up to 18.00 mills on non-homestead property (industrial, commercial and rental property) and up to 12.4675 mills on owner-occupied residential principal residence or homestead property. The amount levied on principal residences for the 2007-08 school year was 4.7232 mills. The total operating levy provided 51% of the Districts $9,667 per-pupil operating funds for the 2007-08 school year. The authority to levy this millage expires with the 2009 tax levy. The original authority to levy 18.00 mills has been rolled back to 17.9694 mills by application of the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution. This proposal would restore and continue the Districts authority to levy this millage for an additional ten years, and would allow the District to receive the full foundation allowance revenue permitted by law.
To provide operating funds for the Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor, County of Washtenaw, shall the limitation on the taxes that may be levied upon taxable property in the District be increased by 18.00 mills ($18.00 per $1,000 of Taxable Value) for non-homestead property of which 12.4675 mills ($12.4675 per $1,000 of Taxable Value) may be levied on principal residences and qualified agricultural property, for a period of ten (10) years, 2010 through 2019 inclusive? For the year 2010 tax levy, this authorization would allow the District to raise approximately $66.9 million from non-homestead property and $20 million from principal residences and qualified agricultural property.