Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Nicholas Russo says the district will rely on state and federal funding after Oakland County voters rejected a regional school millage that would have delivered an estimated $10.7 million a year to RCS.

In a districtwide communication Tuesday, Aug. 11, Russo pledged to keep supporting students and staff without the additional revenue.

"Moving forward, we remain committed to optimally supporting Rochester Community Schools students and staff through state and federal funding sources," Russo said.

The Aug. 4 vote on the Oakland County Regional Enhancement Millage failed 51.01% to 48.99%, according to unofficial results reported by C&G Newspapers. The count showed 169,823 no votes to 163,120 yes votes. That 6,703-vote gap sank a proposal that would have raised property taxes by 1.5 mills for six years, generating roughly $781 per pupil annually across nearly 30 participating districts.

For a homeowner with a taxable value of $100,000, the levy would have cost $150 a year.

Avondale Schools District Superintendent Cathy Kochinski, whose district includes schools in Rochester Hills, struck a similar tone in a letter to families. Kochinski said the district will continue using "conservative budgeting practices and creative solutions" to maintain quality education despite the lost funding.

Oakland Schools Superintendent Kenneth Gutman said in a statement that the intermediate district respects the outcome and remains committed to supporting local schools.

As we reported Aug. 5, the millage defeat hit RCS hardest among local districts because of its enrollment size. The school year begins Aug. 24, giving administrators less than three weeks from the vote to finalize budgets without the anticipated revenue.