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The non-homestead tax applies to apartment buildings, rental homes, second homes, commercial and industrial property and some vacant land. It does not affect homeowners' taxes. If school districts do not levy the entire 18 mill non-homestead tax they do not receive the full state funding.

Voters may obtain an absentee ballot, if they expect to be out of town on election day, or are 60 years or older. Application forms are available at any township or city clerk's office, any school, on the school district web site or at www.michigan.gov, or by sending a letter or post card to the county clerk.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the following locations:

-Brown City High School for Maple Valley Township residents or Burnside Township Hall for Burnside Township residents.

-Croswell Community Center, for residents of the City of Croswell and Buel, Fremont, Speaker and Washington townships.

-Lexington Village Hall, for voters in the Village of Lexington, and Sanilac and Lexington townships.

-Worth Township Hall, for Worth Township residents.

-Grant Township Hall, for residents of Burtchville, Grant and Greenwood townships.

-Elk Township Hall for Elk Township residents.

Cros-Lex

The Croswell-Lexington School District is seeking the renewal of its 18-mill non-homestead property tax for two years.

The millage is levied on non-homestead property -businesses and second homes- and will not affect taxes on primary residences.

Most of the millage Ð17.7876 mills Ðexpired with the 2006 tax levy. The balance -0.2124 mills - would restore millage lost as a result of the Headlee Amendment. The first year the millage would bring in an estimated $3.377 million.

The 18-mill renewal represents 18 percent of the school district's per student funding and if it fails to pass, the state will not make up the difference.

"It would be devastating," said Superintendent Dr. Chuck Smith. "This is our foundation."

If the renewal fails to pass in the Tuesday election, the district will be forced to cut $3.3 million from its $18 million annual budget. The district's per-student funding would drop to $1,400 per student, making it the lowest per student funding in Michigan.

Among the cuts the school board would need to consider would be bussing, sports, extra-curricular activities, teachers and other staff, its police liaison officer, in-school detention and suspension programs and new textbooks.

Brown City

The Brown City District is asking voters to approve a 1.3 ($1.30 per $1,000 of taxable value) mill increase for the years 2007-2008 to restore non-homestead millage approved in 2000. The millage is reduced each year because of the Headlee Amendment. The full 18 mills would raise an estimated $29,491.87 the first year.

Actually, Superintendent Jerry Steigerwald said business owners would be taxed an additional $1.04 per $1,000 the first year and then it would climb to $1.30 the second year. They only asked for a two-year override because the entire 18 mill non-homestead millage will expire in two years.

"Obviously with all the (state) cutbacks to the school district, we feel we would shortchange the kids if we do not give them all the materials they need to be successful," he stated.

Steigerwald said the district has lost $82,074 since 2000 because of the Headlee Amendment.

"It is a small amount when you look at the total budget, but when times are tight every penny countsÉNext year we would lose $29,491. That is a set of textbooks K-12, computers and classroom equipment we would have to go without," he explained.

Peck

The Peck School Board is asking voters to increase the non-homestead millage by 0.75 mills (75 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) for 13 years, from 2007 through 2019. The additional 0.75 mills would put the current millage at 18.5309 mills and by law the school can only levy a maximum of 18 mills so for the first year it will only be an additional 0.22 mills.

The override will allow the district to collect the full 18 mills for three to four years until the Headlee Amendment reduces it below 18 mill again. Eighteen mills will generate a total of $143,737. The override generate an additional $3,563 the first year.

"With the situation in school funding overall, every dollar count. We are asking to be able to levy what we can (by law)," stated Superintendent Dave Bush.

The last time voters approved an additional millage was in 2003, when they increased the levy by one mill to bring the millage back up to the 18 mills originally set in 1999.

The district is holding an information session about the millage at 6 p.m. Thurs., May 3 in the media center. Call 810-378-5200 if you have questions and are unable to attend the meeting.