Rochester Community Schools could gain $10.7 million a year starting in December if Oakland County voters approve the Regional Enhancement Millage on the ballot today, Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The 1.5-mill property tax would last six years and distribute funding on a per-pupil basis to all 28 public school districts and eligible public school academies in Oakland County. For RCS and its nearly 15,000 students, that works out to about $781 per student annually, according to the district's millage information page.

What it costs

A homeowner with a taxable value of $200,000, which in Michigan typically corresponds to a market value around $400,000, would pay about $300 more per year. The charge would first appear on winter tax bills in December 2026.

What the money could fund

Unlike bond or sinking-fund dollars restricted to buildings and equipment, enhancement millage revenue gives districts flexible spending authority. RCS could direct the funds toward transportation, athletics, teacher salaries, special education, school safety, or other operational needs.

The district is already expanding special education programming, including a new high school classroom for students with severe and multiple impairments and broader elementary autism services for the 2025-26 school year.

The math for RCS

RCS is classified as a "donor district," contributing roughly $202,300 to the countywide pool. But because revenue flows back on a per-pupil basis, the district would receive an estimated $10.7 million annually, a net benefit of about $10.5 million per year.

Countywide, the millage would generate more than $130 million in its first year. As we reported in July, Oakland ISD Superintendent Kenneth Gutman told the Oakland Press on July 17 that the intermediate district would keep none of the revenue. "Each school district and eligible public school academy gets funding proportional to enrollment, not property wealth," Gutman said.

Supporters and opponents

Oakland County is one of the few large Michigan counties without a dedicated enhancement millage. About 44% of Michigan's public school students already live in counties with similar taxes, and neighboring Wayne and Macomb counties each levy 1.9 mills.

Waterford Schools Superintendent Adam Martin said in July the millage could help Oakland County districts compete for teachers with those neighboring counties.

The Oakland County Republican Party opposes the measure. Brian Szmytke, the party's finance chair, called it a "$131 million tax grab," arguing that higher per-pupil spending has not improved Michigan's national education rankings.

On Tuesday, WXYZ spoke with voters on both sides. Kate Larvive of Wixom said she supports the tax because "our education system really needs it right now." Janet Wilson of White Lake disagreed, saying she doesn't think spending "is gonna be localized enough for the kids in our district."

What happens next

The millage passes or fails on a countywide basis. Rochester-area voters cannot approve it independently of the rest of Oakland County. The Oakland ISD board voted 3-1 in March to place the proposal on the ballot after school boards representing more than 80% of the county's students passed resolutions requesting it.

Rochester Community Schools has not publicly commented on the measure, though Superintendent Nicholas Russo hosted a community information session on Tuesday, July 21, at the administration building on Dequindre Road.

Election results are expected after polls close at 8 p.m. today, Tuesday, Aug. 4.