TCAPS Operating Millage Renewal

What Is an Operating Millage Tax?

  • An operating millage generates revenue to support the district’s general operating budget. The operating budget funds essential day-to-day expenses such as staff, utilities, supplies and materials, and all costs associated with the district’s educational and co-curricular programs.
  • In order to receive the state determined per-pupil amount, the state requires the district to levy 18 mills on non-homestead property.
  • Non-homestead tax does not apply to primary residences and other exempt property, it is only levied against properties considered “non-primary residence”, which are essentially businesses, industrial properties,  and second homes located in the school district.
  • If approved, the tax will renew at the current authorized level of 20.0616 mills ($20.0616 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2026 to 2035, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes.

November 5 Ballot Language

The language on the November 5th ballot will appear as follows:

TRAVERSE CITY AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL 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 2.0616 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a result of the 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. As a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2025 tax levy, shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Traverse City Area Public Schools, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie Counties, Michigan, be renewed at the current authorized level of 20.0616 mills ($20.0616 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2026 to 2035, 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 2026 is approximately $57,302,865?

A Message from Superintendent Dr. VanWagoner

Click here to view the message from Superintendent Dr. VanWagoner.