Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is asking the community to replace its current operating millage with an 18 mill non-homestead millage that represents roughly $31 million and a 3.6297 mill hold harmless that represents approximately $2 million of the district’s budget. The total of $33 million accounts for 18 percent of the district’s $187 million revenue budget.

Every District in the state is expected to levy, with voter approval, 18 mills on all non-homestead properties in order to receive full state funding under Proposal A. The 3 mill "Headlee cushion" will allow the district to collect the full 18 mills over the duration of the operating millage. The proposal will not increase property taxes on any primary residence property that is within Walled Lake Consolidated Schools boundaries. Since the approval of Proposal A in 1994, the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ community has overwhelmingly supported the operating millage, most recently in 2014.

If the November 5, 2024 proposal is not approved, the school district will lose more than $33 million in operating revenue every year and the state will not make up the shortfall.

More information about the 2024 Operating Millage Replacement can be found at www.wlcsd.org/elections.

• All registered voters can vote on this operating millage proposal. However, the 18 mill non-homestead and 3 mill "Headlee cushion" millage only applies to "non-homesteads" (mainly businesses, rental properties, vacant land, and second homes within the WLCSD boundaries).
• If your primary residence is within the Walled Lake Consolidated School District boundaries, the operating millage proposal will not increase the property taxes on your home.
• The proposed non-homestead operating millage will restore the millage rate to the 18-mill limit last approved by voters in 2014. This 18-mill millage provides about $31 million of the school district's annual operating budget, which is almost 18% of the district's revenue budget. No more than 18 mills will ever be levied.
• To receive the full per-student funding from the state, schools must levy 18 mills on non-homestead property, so operating millages are often approved with a cushion referred to as a “Headlee override” to ensure that it is possible in future years to collect the full 18 mills. The District was unable to collect over $13 million in operating revenue the past 10 years because there wasn't a "Headlee cushion."
• If the November 5 proposal is not approved, the school District will lose more than $33 million in operating revenue every year and the state will not make up the shortfall.