Oakland County shoots down school millage

An Oakland County enhancement millage that would have increased property taxes by 1.5 mills was voted down Aug. 4.

About 173,494 voters, or 51%, voted against the proposal that would have raised property taxes by $1.50 on each $1,000 of taxable value. The measure, one of the few that did not pass statewide, was supported by 166,189 voters, or 49%, according to Click on Detroit election results.

The Oakland Schools Board of Education, which represents 28 school districts in the county, did not respond to a request for comment.

Opponents of the tax hike argue that residents have thrown enough money at education.

Bob Hoffman, an Oakland County commissioner, told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an interview that he is fed up with property tax increases and stagnating student achievement.

“I mean, we’re 44th in the nation at fourth grade reading, and the attitude is: If we give them more money it will get better,” Hoffman said. “If school districts were run like corporate America, they would be out of business.”

Hoffman wants to see districts add performance evaluations for educators, among other changes. But he also said administrators should stand up to misbehavior by parents.

“I also fault the quality of some of the parents too,” the commissioner said, “but the district kowtows to them.”

Hoffman said he has watched education go downhill over the last 30 years, with no accountability.

“But you want more money because it is for the kids,” he added.

A website created by the Oakland County Republican Party noted that the new tax money would have been unrestricted, with no requirements that funding go to classrooms, teachers or students.

The proposal would also have divided money among districts in a way that would leave some districts collecting more property taxes than their schools would get back, the site argued, because the revenue would be siphoned off to neighboring districts.

Oakland County sees a wide range of outcomes in its school districts.

Pontiac is the lowest-income school district in Oakland County and received $18,405 per pupil from all sources in 2018-19.

The funding substantially increased to $31,850 per pupil in 2024-25, a $13,445 increase. But that spending has not purchased higher literacy achievement.

Of 276 fourth graders tested on the M-STEP in English Language Arts, 241 students, or 87% of students, were either partially or not proficient in 2024-25. The percentage is the same as it was in 2018-19, when 280 of 323 fourth graders, 87%, were partially or not proficient.

Waterford School District is considered a solid median income district and was given $18,845 per pupil in 2024-25, an increase from $11,698 in 2018-19.

Of 465 fourth graders tested in 2024-25, 257 students, or 55%, were considered partially or not proficient in ELA.

This is a decrease in literacy from 2018-19, when 260 out of 529, or 49% were partially or not proficient in ELA on the M-STEP.

Some schools in the county have seen improvements.

Bloomfield Hills, considered the most affluent district in Oakland County, received $22,119 in 2024-25 per pupil and $16,748 in 2018-19.

Out of 347 fourth graders tested in 2024-25, 102 students, or 29%, were partially or not proficient in ELA.

That is an improvement from 2018-19, when 118 out of 368 students, or 32%, were partially or not proficient.