- Voters approve tax increases in some communities but reject a school boost in Oakland County
- There were nearly 900 proposals across the state
- Some votes are close
Voters approved tax hikes to fund Wayne County public transit and early childhood in Kalamazoo, but defeated a closely watched regional millage proposal in Oakland County and rejected a Benzie County millage by just nine votes.
Those were among nearly 900 proposals on the ballot statewide during Tuesday’s primary, according to Gongwer News Service. Proposals included public safety taxes, school sinking fund requests, a handful of school bonds and much more.
Voters narrowly defeated an effort to raise per-pupil funding for students in Oakland County while local sinking fund requests in Washtenaw County were successful.
More than 1.6 million voters cast their ballots in the election, according to totals last updated Wednesday morning.
Read on to learn about other interesting millages across the state.
Wayne County on track for new transit tax
More than two-thirds of voters had said yes to the public transit proposal as of Wednesday afternoon, with a single precinct left to report.
The tax would continue public transit for communities already part of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) and add a tax to 17 communities that have previously opted out, according to BridgeDetroit.
Oakland schools tax increase fails, while Detroit operating millage appears likely to pass
Voters rejected a tax hike proposal that would have provided districts in Oakland County with $781 more a year per student, according to Bridge’s analysis of election results from multiple counties. There were 165,300 yes votes and 172,865 no votes.
“We respect the election’s outcome and the will of Oakland County voters,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Kenneth Gutman. “We appreciate everyone who took the time to participate in the democratic process and remain committed to supporting our local school districts and the students they serve.”
Meanwhile, 81% of voters approved Detroit Public Schools Community District’s operating millage, Chalkbeat Detroit reports. The millage is expected to generate about $120 million, while the district’s total budget is $1.1 billion.
Close calls
Voters narrowly defeated an operating millage renewal for Oxford Community Schools. The gap between yes and no was 23 votes, according to a Bridge analysis of results from Oakland and Lapeer counties.
In Benzie County, an operating millage failed by just nine votes, according to Interlochen Public Radio. Meanwhile, voters appear to have defeated a school operating millage and sinking fund increase request for Benzie Central School District, according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
West Michigan voters approve library funding despite ballot mistake
Voters approved a 10-year millage for the Sparta Township library narrowly, according to WOOD TV. But the word “not” — as in “not to exceed” — was missing from the ballot language leading to concern that the village could have an uncapped millage.
Kalamazoo voters approve tax increase for early childhood efforts
About 63% of voters said yes to an eight-year tax to increase child care access in Kalamazoo County, WWMT reports.
The funding would be used for raising workers’ wages and providing child care tuition assistance for families who do not otherwise qualify for state help, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Kent and Leelanau also have early childhood millages.
Voters mixed on pay-as-you-go school accounts
Voters approved school district sinking funds also known as pay-as-you-go accounts in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Saline and Whitmore Lake, according to MLive.
In Northern Michigan, voters rejected Atlanta Community Schools’ request for a 10-year sinking fund, the Alpena News reports.
Other local efforts pass
Midland County voters approved an increase in road funding and renewed a tax to support older adults, according to unofficial county results.
Preliminary results from Huron County show that voters renewed taxes to support older adults, emergency operations and veterans.
Voters supported taxes to work with MSU Extension services in Alger, Luce and Schoolcraft counties, according to Upper Michigan’s Source.
In Osceola County, voters said yes to renewing a tax to pay for school resource officers and operating the county sheriff department and jail, according to unofficial results
Voters voted to renew a 911 millage in Antrim County.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 5:12 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2026, to correct the outcome of the Oxford Community Schools millage. The measure failed.
