MATTAWAN – On May 5, Mattawan Consolidated School will ask voters to renew its Non-Homestead Operating Millage for another four-year term. The millage rate is currently 19.4227, with the maximum being levied at any point is 18 mills.
The district last renewed this millage in August 2022 for a period of four years. It is set to expire at the end of 2026. To receive full State Foundation Grant funding, public schools must levy 18 mills of operating millage on non-homestead properties.
This proposal does not impact taxes on primary residential or agricultural properties; only second homes, investment, commercial and industrial properties are affected. This is not an increase in taxes, but a renewal of the school district’s current levy.
The non-homestead millage currently provides more than $4 million in revenue, or just over nine percent, of the Mattawan Consolidated School’s annual general fund operating budget. The district’s general fund operating budget provides funding for staff salaries and benefits; all academic programming and supplies as well as athletics; transportation and building and grounds operations; technology, textbooks and other district capital purchases.
A vote to renew this levy is critical; this money cannot be replaced with other funding sources. Even though primary residential taxes are not affected, state law requires a district-wide election to approve this renewal.
The non-homestead operating millage is subject to the Headlee Rollback, which means when property values rise at a greater pace than the rate of inflation the non-homestead tax levy will be “Headlee reduced”. By having a millage rate available of 19.4227, it allows the district a “buffer” in the event of a Headlee Rollback so the mills levied do not go below 18 mills, a situation where the district would lose operating funding. At no point will more than 18 mills be levied on non-homestead properties.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
