Rochester Community Schools will open the 2026-27 school year without an estimated $10.7 million in new annual operating revenue after Oakland County voters narrowly rejected a regional enhancement millage on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The final count, according to The Oakland Press: 169,832 no (51.1%) to 163,120 yes (48.9%), a margin of 6,712 votes out of more than 332,000 cast. Turnout exceeded 36% countywide.

The 1.5-mill proposal would have generated more than $130 million in its first year and distributed an average of $781 per pupil annually over six years to Oakland County's 28 eligible public school districts, including the $10.7 million RCS figure cited above, as detailed in earlier coverage of the race.

The defeat lands less than three weeks before RCS students return to class on Monday, Aug. 24. The funds would have been unrestricted operating dollars districts could spend on teacher retention, school security improvements, mental health services and other needs.

"We respect the election's outcome and the will of Oakland County voters," Oakland ISD Superintendent Ken Gutman told The Oakland Press Wednesday. "We appreciate everyone who took the time to participate in the democratic process and remain committed to supporting our local school districts and the students they serve."

No post-election statement has been released by Rochester Community Schools or Superintendent Nicholas Russo, who hosted a community information session about the millage on July 21 at the RCS administration building on Dequindre Road.

Oakland County remains one of the few counties in southeast Michigan without a dedicated school enhancement millage. Wayne County adopted a 1.9-mill version in 2016; Macomb County voters approved 1.9 mills in March 2020. Statewide, about 600,000 students, roughly 44% of Michigan's public school enrollment, live in counties with similar millages, according to The Oakland Press.

The Oakland County Republican Party opposed the proposal through its MillageMadness.com campaign, calling it a "$131 million tax grab." Party chairman Vance Patrick said in a statement to The Oakland Press that millages are "notoriously difficult to defeat" in a low-turnout August primary and credited the effort, saying Oakland County taxpayers "just saved themselves $131 million a year."

As previously reported, the proposal would have cost a home with a taxable value of $100,000 about $150 per year, according to C&G News.

As we reported earlier Wednesday, the race initially appeared to favor the "yes" side by about 500 votes before all precincts reported. The final certified totals flipped the result decisively.

The RCS Board of Education has not announced its next meeting date, where budget implications of the defeat would likely be discussed.