By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Voters in Niles said yes.
On Tuesday, Niles Community Schools voters approved a three year renewal of the 18-mill non-homestead tax levy with a total of 1,064 yes to 371 no votes.
Niles City voters had a total of 490 yes to 144 no; Howard Township came out 243 to 109; and Niles Township votes came out 331 to 118.
"We are very pleased with the support from the community," Niles Community School superintendent Doug Law said Wednesday morning.
Although homeowners in the district approved the millage, they will not pay this levy. This millage is assessed on business/commercial property, second homes and non-exempt agriculture property. Primary residences (homesteads) are not assessed this 18 mill levy.
The non-homestead tax vote has passed every year since it started in 1994.
The millage was part of a Proposal A Tax Reform package that the voters in Michigan approved for changing the way Michigan schools are financed.
If the vote would have failed, the school system would have lost an estimated $3 million, which would have resulted in a significant amount of cuts in the school program, Law said.
There was a lot of confusion with this non-homestead tax vote when absentee ballots went out a few weeks ago. A lot of phone calls were being made to the City of Niles and Niles Township from residents wondering if this was part of the recent bond proposals.