By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Voters in the Zeeland Public Schools district will see two proposals on the ballot next Tuesday – one, a non-homestead millage renewal, the other a countywide special education millage request.
ZPS is asking voters to approve an 18-mill, one-year renewal of the non-homestead levy that is applied to businesses, rental homes, vacation homes and other properties that are not a family’s primary residence. The tax does not apply to primary residences.
If approved, the levy would generate $11,355,713 for the district for the 2026-27 school year, according to the ballot language filed with the Ottawa County Clerk’s office. ZPS Chief Financial Officer Lynn Van Kampen told the school board in January that the levy represents about 11-12 percent of the district’s expected annual revenue.
“This is something the state does not make up if we don’t collect the mills,” Van Kampen said at that time.
In May of last year, ZPS voters easily passed renewing the non-homestead levy with 2,906 yes votes to 1,157 no votes. The levy will generate more than $10.9 million in revenue for the 2025-26 school year.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District is asking voters in its coverage area to approve a proposal that renews the district’s special education levy of 1.2425 mills and restores another half-mill to compensate for reductions caused by the Headlee amendment. If approved, the levy would generate an additional $4.5 million for OAISD this year to help pay for mandatory special education services.
Michigan’s public school districts and academies are required under law to provide students with disabilities with a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) from birth to age 26. Nearly 13 percent of students in the OAISD service region receive special education services.
State and federal funding currently cover around 42 percent of the costs for mandatory special education services in the region, leaving a shortfall of approximately $14.5 million annually. To make up the difference, local public schools rely on special education millage funds, or must reallocate general fund dollars — resources that would otherwise support educational programs and services for all students.
If the proposal is approved, homeowners with a market value of $200,000 and taxable value of $100,000 could expect to pay $14.52 per month or $174.25 annually, which is an increase of $50 a year from what is currently collected.
Zeeland Record
Voters in the Zeeland Public Schools district will see two proposals on the ballot next Tuesday – one, a non-homestead millage renewal, the other a countywide special education millage request.
ZPS is asking voters to approve an 18-mill, one-year renewal of the non-homestead levy that is applied to businesses, rental homes, vacation homes and other properties that are not a family’s primary residence. The tax does not apply to primary residences.
If approved, the levy would generate $11,355,713 for the district for the 2026-27 school year, according to the ballot language filed with the Ottawa County Clerk’s office. ZPS Chief Financial Officer Lynn Van Kampen told the school board in January that the levy represents about 11-12 percent of the district’s expected annual revenue.
“This is something the state does not make up if we don’t collect the mills,” Van Kampen said at that time.
In May of last year, ZPS voters easily passed renewing the non-homestead levy with 2,906 yes votes to 1,157 no votes. The levy will generate more than $10.9 million in revenue for the 2025-26 school year.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District is asking voters in its coverage area to approve a proposal that renews the district’s special education levy of 1.2425 mills and restores another half-mill to compensate for reductions caused by the Headlee amendment. If approved, the levy would generate an additional $4.5 million for OAISD this year to help pay for mandatory special education services.
Michigan’s public school districts and academies are required under law to provide students with disabilities with a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) from birth to age 26. Nearly 13 percent of students in the OAISD service region receive special education services.
State and federal funding currently cover around 42 percent of the costs for mandatory special education services in the region, leaving a shortfall of approximately $14.5 million annually. To make up the difference, local public schools rely on special education millage funds, or must reallocate general fund dollars — resources that would otherwise support educational programs and services for all students.
If the proposal is approved, homeowners with a market value of $200,000 and taxable value of $100,000 could expect to pay $14.52 per month or $174.25 annually, which is an increase of $50 a year from what is currently collected.
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