FEAS 2026 Millage Info

2026 Non-Homestead Millage Information:

Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools can only levy a maximum of 18 mills for its non-homestead operating millage. The proposal on the May 5, 2026 ballot would help protect the District’s ability to levy the full 18 mills through 2029.

-The non-homestead millage does NOT apply to principal residences. It generally only impacts non-homestead properties (ex: second homes/commercial properties).

-The non-homestead millage helps protect the May 2024 voter-approved non-homestead operating millage from falling below 18 mills through 2029.

-Revenue from the non-homestead operating millage supports day-to-day school operations including teacher salaries, curriculum and supplies, reading and math supports, art, music and trades programs, technology, learning tools, transportation,

and school operations.

-On May 5th- voters will consider a non-homestead operating millage proposal that would help protect the District’s ability to levy the maximum of 18 mills for its non-homestead operating millage.

-The proposal would increase the non-homestead operating millage by 2 mills to help protect the District’s ability to levy 18 mills against expected future Headlee rollbacks, but the maximum amount the District can ever levy for the non-homestead operating millage is 18 mills, the same it has levied the past several years.

Understanding the Millage Proposal

If approved:  It would help protect the District’s ability to levy 18 mills of non-homestead operating millage against expected future “Headlee rollbacks” that could decrease the non-homestead operating millage through 2029 and could even reduce below 18 mills.

The District can never levy more than 18 mills of non-homestead operating millage, but the rate can be reduced below 18 mills by “Headlee rollbacks.”

The Impact of the Proposal

The District estimates that in 2026, a half mill Headlee rollback would result in the District levying less than 18 mills and would further result in the District receiving less funding than if were able to levy the full 18 mills. In 2025, the non-homestead operating millage was subject to “Headlee rollback” of .4838 mill.

Our Commitment

The district remains committed to:

Transparent budgeting in accordance with State law

Providing academic opportunities for students

What you Will See on the Ballot

This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law.  

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, Benzie County, Michigan, be increased by 2 mills ($2.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2026 to 2029, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2026 is approximately $337,435 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)