Novi homeowners with a $400,000 house would pay about $300 more per year in property taxes if Oakland County voters approve a Regional Enhancement Millage on August 4.
The six-year levy of 1.5 mills — $1.50 for every $1,000 of taxable value — would generate $131 million in its first year and send $781 per student to each public school district in the county, according to the Oakland County Intermediate School District.
The Oakland ISD board voted 3-1 in March to place the proposal on the primary ballot after school boards representing a majority of the county's students requested it, the Oakland Press reported on July 17.
What Novi schools would get
Novi Community School District Superintendent Ben Mainka told WXYZ on July 21 that state per-pupil funding is inadequate and that the millage would give districts spending flexibility they don't get from bonds or sinking funds.
"With this proposed millage, what you're really doing is you're voting to say I want [to] make sure that our schools have enough funds to be able to operate at the level that they have been," Mainka said.
He said the money could cover intervention services, transportation, extracurriculars, athletics, curricula and staff positions that might otherwise be cut.
Oakland Schools Superintendent Kenneth Gutman said the ISD itself would not keep any revenue. Funds would be distributed to local districts and public school academies on a per-pupil basis proportional to enrollment, not property wealth.
Opposition
Oakland County Commissioner Bob Hoffman urged a no vote, arguing the true cost has been understated. He noted the average Oakland County home is worth nearly $400,000, putting the real annual hit at about $300 — not the $152 figure some districts cited for a $200,000 home.
Oakland County Republican Party Finance Chair Brian Szmytke called the proposal a "$131 million tax grab," saying higher per-pupil spending has not improved Michigan's national education rankings. He also objected that some districts would contribute more in taxes than they receive back in per-pupil funding.
Novi voters in Northville schools see a different ballot
Not every Novi resident will see this question on their ballot. Novi residents who live within the Northville Public Schools boundaries will instead vote on a separate NPS operating millage, according to C&G Newspapers. That NPS proposal is a replacement of an expiring non-homestead millage — it does not raise taxes on primary residences. The ballot language authorizes up to 18 mills on non-homestead property for 10 years, with the district estimating $11.8 million in revenue if levied in 2027.
Context
Oakland County is one of the few large Michigan counties without a countywide enhancement millage. About 44% of the state's public school students already live in counties with one, including Wayne County (1.9 mills since 2016) and Macomb County (1.9 mills since 2020).
If approved, the new charge would appear on winter tax bills starting in December 2026. Polls are open August 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
