By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Voters in the Hart Public Schools district passed a non-homestead millage proposal 547-435 Tuesday, May 5.
The millage will fund costs for the district’s operations, including teacher and staff salaries, previously said Hart Public Schools Superintendent Mark Platt. “It’s simply a millage that the state requires us to pass, and if we don’t pass it, we get penalized.”
If the millage proposal had failed, the district would have faced staff cuts and larger classroom sizes.
The approved 20 mills will generate about $5 million.
“A non-homestead millage does not apply to individual homeowners,” said Platt. It applies to commercial, industrial, rental, and second-home properties in Michigan.
“The rate, as far as the monetary piece, varies district by district all over the State of Michigan. It’s based in large part on property values.”
Hart’s non-homestead millage was rejected by voters in 2024. Voters approved the non-homestead in 2013, and the funds lasted about 12 years.
Voters in the Hart school district passed a bond issue last May. The successful passage allows the district’s bond levy to continue, generating about $14 million. The funds will be used to make improvements throughout the school’s campus, including upgrades to the football stadium and track.
Tuesday’s vote totals by precinct:
Crystal Township: YES 15; NO 32
Elbridge Township: YES 67; NO 62
Golden Township: YES 133; NO 120
Hart City: YES 144; NO 58
Hart Township: YES 175; NO 145
Weare Township: YES 13; NO 18
TOTAL: YES 547; NO 435
Out of 7,989 registered voters, 1,138 cast ballots, representing a voter turnout of 14.24 percent, according to unofficial results from the Oceana County Clerk’s Office.
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