ISD REGIONAL ENHANCEMENT MILLS

House Bill 4800

Sponsor:  Rep. John Walsh

Committee:  Redistricting and Elections

Complete to 9-26-11

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4800 AS INTRODUCED 6-22-11

House Bill 4800 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.705) to eliminate the special provisions governing how an intermediate school district with a population of more than 1.4 million is to schedule a regional enhancement property tax ballot question.  Under the bill, all ISD regional enhancement millage elections would then appear to be treated in the same way:  they would be held either at the school district elections or at a special election, depending on the timing of the resolution process.

Currently an ISD with a population of over 1.4 million must hold a special election on a regional enhancement millage at the next state primary or general election.

The Revised School Code allows a regional enhancement millage of up to three mills for local school district operations to be levied by an intermediate school district.  This requires a resolution from one or more boards of constituent districts representing a majority of the combined pupil membership of constituent districts in the ISD.  The resolutions must contain an identical specified number of mills and an identical specified number of years.

Generally under the code, the question of whether to levy regional enhancement mills is placed on the ballot by an ISD district at the next regular school election held in each of the constituent districts.  However, if the resolution requirement is met more than 180 days before the next regular school elections, and if requested in the resolutions, the question is placed on the ballot at a special election to be held no sooner than 90 days after the resolution requirements are met.

But currently for an ISD with a population of over 1.4 million, the ISD school board must call a special election on a regional enhancement millage to be held at the next state primary or general election.  House Bill 4800 would strike the provisions for the election in an ISD over 1.4 million.  Under the bill, all ISD regional enhancement millage elections would then appear to be treated in the same way:  either at the school district elections or at a special election, depending on the timing of the resolution process.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no significant fiscal impact on state or local units of government. 

Under the Michigan Election Law, if a school district's (including an ISD's) regular election is held in conjunction with another election conducted by a county, city, or township, the school district shall pay the county, city, or township, 100% of the actual additional costs attributable to conducting the school district's election.  If a school district's regular or special election is not held in conjunction with another election conducted by a county, city, or township, the school district shall pay the county, city, or township 100% of the actual costs of conducting the school district's regular or special election.  The Michigan Election Law permits (with certain exceptions) four election dates:  in February, May, August, or November. 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.