Muskegon County voters reject Whitehall school operating millage

oters in Muskegon County shot down a Whitehall District Schools request to renew its school operating millage on Tuesday, Nov. 5, according to unofficial county election results.

Whitehall District Schools' request failed with 2,714 votes in favor, 46.87% and 3,076 votes in opposition, 53.13%.

General election results are considered unofficial until they are certified.

The request supports day-to-day operations for students.

The district has stressed to community members that these are not new taxes and if approved, the millage would not affect primary residences, only non-homestead property like vacation homes, businesses and commercial property.

To receive their full per-student funding from the state, schools must levy 18 mills on non-homestead property.

Whitehall District Schools' proposal was for up to 20 mills ($20 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, from 2026 to 2035.

The measure would have also restored millage lost, if needed, as a result of a Headlee Amendment reduction. Headlee requires a local government to reduce its millage when annual growth on existing property is greater than the rate of inflation.

It could have allowed the district to collect $4.18 million for its 1,957 students.

Grand Rapids"