Rochester Hills voters locked in another decade of funding for the city's 100-plus miles of trails and pathways on Tuesday, Aug. 4, approving the 0.1715-mill pathway millage renewal by a wide margin with 100% of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results reported by the Detroit News.
The 10-year levy will raise an estimated $864,920 in its first year, according to the official Oakland County ballot proposal, funding construction, maintenance and repair of paths for bicycles, pedestrians and other non-motorized users along main, arterial and collector roads. The millage covers the Clinton River Trail, Paint Creek Trail and connections to schools throughout the city.
For property owners, the renewal carries no rate increase. Homeowners will continue paying just over $17 per year for every $100,000 in taxable value, a figure the Detroit Free Press called "one of the county's lowest taxes."
The city has maintained a pathway millage for roughly 20 years, according to the city's ballot information page. The renewed levy covers fiscal years 2027 through 2036, with the first collection appearing on December 2026 tax bills.
The trails funded by the millage link residential neighborhoods to downtown Rochester's Main Street district and the Rochester Road corridor, serving commuters, shoppers and recreational users. The Clinton River Trail and Paint Creek Trail are among the region's most-used non-motorized routes.
The pathway vote was one of two Rochester Hills millages on the Aug. 4 ballot. Voters also approved a permanent fire department millage increase from 3 to 3.5 mills, with 71.45% voting yes, as we reported Aug. 5.
Trail users can expect visible work ahead. The Paint Creek Trailways Commission approved a $500,000 bridge repair project at its March 17 meeting to rehabilitate three pedestrian bridges between Tienken Road and Dutton Road, with construction tentatively scheduled for late fall 2026. The city is funding the project, which will require approximately one month of trail closure in that stretch.
