Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township voters will find up to three ballot proposals waiting for them at the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 4, with early voting already underway at two local sites.
Here's what's on your ballot.
Countywide: Oakland Schools enhancement millage
Every voter in Oakland County will see this one. The proposal would levy 1.5 mills ($1.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) for six years, raising an estimated $125.7 million in the first year. The money would flow to each of the county's 28 school districts on an equal per-pupil basis, roughly $700 per student on top of the state's current $10,300 per-pupil foundation allowance, according to MLive. Rochester Community Schools would be among the recipients.
The millage has drawn both support and opposition locally. Carol Beth Litkouhi, a Rochester Community Schools board member, wrote in a July 2 email to Michigan Capitol Confidential that the district already has a healthy fund balance. "Proponents need to explain why taxpayers should approve a new tax when they haven't laid out why it's needed, specified how it would be used, or explained how anyone would know if it worked," Litkouhi wrote.
Proponents, according to MLive, say the funds would boost teacher pay and improve technology and classroom services across districts.
Rochester Hills only: fire millage increase
This charter amendment would raise the city's authorized fire millage from 3.0 mills to 3.5 mills. The Rochester Hills Fire Department logged more than 9,200 emergency runs in 2025, a 39% increase over the past decade, according to the city. On 224 occasions that year, zero fire units were available to respond.
If approved, the increase would generate an estimated $5,039,970 in additional revenue in the first year and fund 12 new firefighter/paramedics plus a 24/7 ambulance and fire engine, the city said. Headlee Amendment rollbacks have already reduced the city's currently billed rate to 2.7798 mills, so the actual increase homeowners will see is closer to 0.72 mills, about $144 per year for a home with a $200,000 taxable value.
Rochester Hills only: pathway millage renewal
This proposal renews the existing 0.1715-mill pathway levy for another 10 years with no rate increase. The millage has funded construction and maintenance of the city's 100-plus miles of pathways for 20 years. If approved, it would raise an estimated $864,920 in the first year. A home with a $200,000 taxable value would continue paying about $34.30 per year.
The renewed language would explicitly name the Clinton River Trail and Paint Creek Trail, allowing dedicated funds to rehabilitate those trail segments within city borders.
Where and when to vote early
Early voting runs through Sunday, Aug. 2:
- Rochester Hills and Oakland Township voters: Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester. (Check rochesterhills.org for daily hours.)
- Rochester (city) voters: Rochester City Hall, 400 Sixth Street, Rochester. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
On Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 4, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at your assigned precinct.
