Detroiters will vote on a school operating millage proposal in the August 4 primary. The Detroit Public Schools Community District is seeking an 18-mill operating millage for 20 years to provide revenue for general operating expenses, including classroom programming, supplies, and staff salaries.

What’s at Stake

If voters reject the millage, the district would face a deficit of $111 million for the 2027-28 school year. The millage would generate about $112 million during the 2026-27 school year, which is part of the district’s total budget of around $1.1 billion.

The operating millage is levied on commercial property, rental property, and vacation property, but does not affect primary homeowners. The state has provided DPSCD with 100% of what a millage would have generated, but that may not be the case when the district has to rely on actual millage revenue.

Background

In 2016, lawmakers created DPSCD as a separate district to take control of schools from Detroit Public Schools (DPS), which had accumulated significant debt. DPS remained intact to collect revenue from millages and pay off the lingering debt. However, the state budget approved recently eliminates $124 million for operating costs, assuming the district will receive those funds from a millage.

Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.