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Clintondale board approves 2-mill Headley-override question for Aug. 4 special election
Summary
CFO Kevin Teratua told the board Headley rollbacks reduced the district's authorized levy and cost about $25 per student this year (about $42,000). The board approved placing a 2-mill operating millage override on the Aug. 4, 2026 ballot to restore funding through the current authorization in 2031; the levy affects non-homestead properties only.
The Clintondale Community Schools board voted to place a Headley-override operating-millage question on the August 4, 2026 special-election ballot after a presentation from the district's chief financial officer.
CFO Kevin Teratua explained that changes in taxable value and Michigan's Headley rollback calculation reduced the district's levied mills to 17.78 this year, producing what he estimated as about a $25-per-student shortfall (approximately $42,000 for 2026) on state foundation funding. He recommended a 2-mill increase on non-homestead parcels to hedge future Headley rollbacks and maintain funding through the district's current authorization period, which expires in 2031.
"This Headley rollback is causing us to not receive our full foundation funding," Teratua said, walking trustees through the mechanics: the state assumes an 18-mill local contribution for per-pupil funding; when Headley calculations reduce the local levy, the district receives less local revenue and thereby less total foundation funding.
Trustees discussed likely outreach and the cost of campaigning; public commenter J. Blazius warned that special-election costs can range widely and urged the district to plan its communications carefully so voters understand that the proposed levy would not affect primary homestead property-tax rates.
The board approved a resolution to work with the county clerk to place a 2-mill restoration question on the August 4 ballot. The CFO said the vote should not affect primary-homeowner taxes; the levy applies to non-homestead (commercial, rental, second-home) properties.
Next steps: staff will finalize ballot language and work with the county clerk on placement. The board asked administration to return with a communications plan outlining likely costs and outreach steps for the community.
