Voters in Bloomingdale Public School District will see an Operating Millage Proposal on the August 4, 2026 ballot. The purpose of this proposal is to restore the district’s ability to levy the full 18 mills on non-homestead property, which is the amount Michigan’s school funding system expects school districts to collect locally in order to receive their full per-pupil foundation allowance.
This proposal does not apply to a homeowner’s primary residence. Primary residences, sometimes called homestead properties, are exempt from this operating millage. The millage applies only to non-homestead property, such as business property, rental property, second homes, vacant land, and other property not exempted by law. A person who just owns a primary residence in the school district has not paid, and will not pay, the operating millage.
Bloomingdale Public Schools is currently authorized to levy 17.0724 mills on non-homestead property for the winter 2026 levy. Because this is below the statutory 18-mills level, the district is projected to collect approximately $117,000 less in operating revenue this year than the state’s school funding formula assumes the district will collect.
Voters may notice that the ballot language includes an estimated 2026 revenue figure of approximately $69,864. That estimate was based on the tax information available when the ballot language was required to be submitted. After that deadline, the district received updated tax information showing that the district’s authorized winter levy is 17.0724 mills. Based on this updated information, the projected operating revenue loss is now approximately $117,000.
The purpose of the proposal has not changed. If approved, the proposal would allow the district to restore its non-homestead operating millage up to the full 18 mills. The district may not levy more than 18 mills for operating purposes in any year.
The reason this issue appears on the ballot is the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution. When taxable values grow faster than the rate of inflation, the Headlee Amendment reduces, or “rolls back,” the authorized millage rate. Over time, this can reduce a school district’s non-homestead operating millage rate below the 18 mills assumed under Michigan’s school funding system, which results in decreased funding from the State.
Operating millage revenue supports the district’s general fund. The general fund pays for day-to-day school operations, including staffing, classroom materials, transportation, utilities, student programs, building operations, and other regular operating expenses.
The ballot proposal asks voters to consider authorizing an increase of up to 3 mills for a period of 5 years, 2026 through 2030. This does not mean the district can levy more than 18 mills. The additional authorization would be used only to restore millage reduced by the Headlee Amendment and allow the district to levy the full 18 mills on non-homestead property.
Key Facts
Election Day: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Proposal: Bloomingdale Public School District Operating Millage Proposal
Applies to: Non-homestead property only
Does not apply to: Primary residences and other property exempted by law
Current authorized winter levy: 17.0724 mills
Maximum levy allowed: 18 mills
Updated projected operating revenue impact: Annual loss of approximately $117,000
Ballot language estimate: Annual loss of approximately $69,864, based on information available when ballot language was submitted
Length of authorization requested: 5 years, 2026 through 2030
Full Ballot Language
BLOOMINGDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 16
OPERATING MILLAGE PROPOSAL
This proposal will allow the school district 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 full revenue per pupil foundation allowance. The total operating millage levied by the school district will not exceed 18 mills in any year.
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Bloomingdale Public School District No. 16, Van Buren and Allegan Counties, Michigan, be increased by 3 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2026 to 2030, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 0.5489 mill of the 3 mills is levied in 2026 is approximately $69,864 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?
Residents with questions about voting, absentee ballots, early voting, or polling locations should contact their local clerk or visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at Michigan.gov/Vote.
Questions about the operating millage proposal may be directed to Superintendent Rick Reo in the Bloomingdale Public Schools administrative office at (269) 521-3900. Additionally, an FAQ document is available on the school website at bdalecards.com.
Paid for by: Bloomingdale Public School District, 629 E. Kalamazoo St., Bloomingdale, Michigan 49026