Ionia Sentinel-Standard
IONIA — A proposal to restore Ionia Public Schools’ non-homestead operating millage to its original 18 mills failed in the Tuesday, May 4, special election — according to unofficial election results.
The IPS non-homestead operating millage restoration proposal failed with 591 yes votes to 744 no votes, according to unofficial Ionia County election results — meaning roughly 56 percent of voters opposed it.
IPS asked voters Tuesday to approve raising the operating millage rate levied on non-homestead property to its original 18 mills, IPS Superintendent Ron Wilson previously said.
The operating millage rate levied on non-homestead property was statutorily reduced by the Headlee Amendment — a 1978 amendment to the Michigan Constitution requiring a millage reduction when annual growth on existing property is greater than the rate of inflation, according to Wilson. IPS was affected by Headlee during the 2020 tax year and the operating millage was reduced to 17.7804 mills — a decrease of 0.2196 mils.