What's on the ballot in Waterford Township, Oakland County

In 2008 and 2016, pursuant to Public Act 49 of 2008, Oakland County voters renewed a 10-year property tax millage to fund zoological services through the Oakland County Zoological Authority, supporting animal care for more than 2,000 animals and 200 species, educational and senior programs, and facility maintenance at the Detroit Zoo. To continue providing these services, the Authority seeks to renew and restore the millage to the original voter-approved rate of 0.10 mill (10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value). This proposal would renew the millage at 0.0927 mill and restore the remaining 0.0073 mill that was reduced due to required rollback, for a total authorized rate of 0.10 mill on taxable real and personal property for ten (10) years. If approved, the millage rate would be unchanged from those approved by voters in 2008 and 2016. Funds will be disbursed to the Authority and transferred to the Detroit Zoo as permitted by law. All funds are subject to annual independent audits. It is estimated that $8,831,012 will be collected in the first year. Ballot Question: Do you approve the renewal and restoration of the levy of 0.10 mill on all taxable property in Oakland County for a period of ten (10) years, from 2028 through 2037?

The Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority (“Authority”) is a joint authority established by Wayne and Oakland Counties (“Counties”) pursuant to Michigan Public Act 321 of the Public Acts of 2000, as amended, and was formed to support the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and other public historical museums located in Wayne and Oakland Counties (“Historical Museums”) that provide historical museum services for students, residents and visitors of the Counties. The law allows the Authority to seek authorization from the electors in each of the Counties to levy a tax of 0.2 mill (20 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) on taxable property to provide revenue for Historical Museums. It is estimated that if approved and levied, this new millage on all taxable property located within Oakland County would generate approximately $17,733,800 in 2026. In addition to supporting the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, and Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 15% of revenues received by the Authority from taxable property in Oakland County, after Authority administrative expenses, will be disbursed to the County of Oakland for the purposes of supporting Historical Museums in Oakland County. Shall a 0.2 mill tax on all taxable property located within Oakland County be imposed by the Authority for a period of ten (10) years, being years 2026 through 2035, inclusive, to provide historical museum services for the benefit of the residents of the Counties?

Shall the existing authorized Fire Operating Millage #2 originally approved by voters in 1986, be renewed at the current 0.8822 mills ($0.8822 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) upon taxable real property and personal property within the Township of Waterford for the period of ten (10) years, 2026 through 2035, thereby generating in the first year an estimated $2,994,579.65 to be used for the cost of staffing, maintenance and operation of the Fire Department for Waterford Residents only?

Shall the existing authorized Police Operating Millage #2 originally approved by voters in 1986, be renewed at the current 1.3352 mills ($1.3352 per $1000.00 of taxable value) upon taxable real and personal property within the Charter Township of Waterford for a period of ten (10) years, 2026 through 2035, thereby generating in the first year an estimated $4,532,219.12 to be used for the cost of staffing, maintenance and operation of the police department?

This proposal would replace, restore and extend the authority of the School District to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property (principally industrial and commercial real property and residential rental property) which currently expires with the School District’s 2033 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property in the event of future Headlee rollbacks of up to 4 mills. The authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State. Personal residences are exempt from this levy. Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Waterford School District, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, be increased to the amount of 22 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of ten (10) years, 2026 to 2035 inclusive, with 17.6749 mills of the above 22 mills being a replacement of the authorized operating millage which will otherwise expire on December 31, 2033 and 0.3251 mills of the above 22 mills being a restoration of the millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $17,701,778 during the 2026 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.