(CONSTANTINE) – Voters in the Constantine School District will be heading to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate of an operating millage request.

Constantine Schools is asking to restore their operating millage to the original statutory maximum rate of 18 mills through 2032. The current millage is at 16.7441 mills.

The State of Michigan does require school districts to reduce the millage rate when property tax values grow faster than the rate of inflation. That is why the millage rate for Constantine schools has been reduced.

The way to fix that is to have voters approve restoring the full 18 mills, with a current restoration of 1.2559 mills. Constantine Schools is also proposing to add a 2.5 mill cushion, allowing the District to maintain the 18 mills over the next 8 years, as long as the operating millage does not reduce more than 2.5 mills.

This is not a new millage, as Constantine Public School voters have been periodically voting on this operating millage since its inception in 1994.

A reminder, this millage only applies to non-homestead properties. That includes businesses, second homes, investment properties and rental properties.

If the renewal is defeated, Constantine Schools stand to lose over $900,000 in funding from the State over the next five years.

Polls will be open Tuesday until 8 PM.