YES for Harrison Kids Group Brings Community Together Around November 3 Millage Vote

HARRISON, Mich.  — With the November 3 election approaching, Harrison-area residents have come together as YES for Harrison Kids, an independent, grassroots group advocating for passage of Harrison Community Schools’ Non-Homestead Operating Millage Renewal.

YES for Harrison Kids is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or supported by Harrison Community Schools. Members are volunteering independently to educate and engage local voters.

Over the past several weeks, the group has worked to increase awareness of the proposal, answer questions and encourage voter participation. Through social media, informational graphics, community testimonials, outreach to residents and businesses, and voting information, members have focused on making a complicated school-funding issue easier to understand.

The proposal is a renewal of Harrison Community Schools’ existing non-homestead operating millage authorization, rather than a new millage. It seeks authorization for 17.4362 mills for 10 years, from 2027 through 2036, and is estimated to generate approximately $5.7 million in 2027 for school district operating purposes.

That revenue is part of the funding available to the district for its day-to-day operations. If the millage is renewed, the district would continue collecting this local operating revenue. If it is not renewed, the district would no longer collect the approximately $5.7 million currently projected from the millage for 2027. The millage is levied on non-homestead property; qualifying principal residences with a 100% Principal Residence Exemption are exempt from the local school operating millage.

“Even though the current way we fund public schools in Michigan has been virtually unchanged since the voters approved Proposal A in 1994, people often are confused and mistake the required renewal of the non-homestead levy for an increase,” said Tom House, a member of YES for Harrison Kids. “In fact, it has remained the same for over 30 years and has no impact on the property tax paid on homeowners’ personal residences.”

The group has also highlighted the voices of parents, grandparents, Harrison graduates, retired educators, business owners and other residents through community testimonials. Educational content has addressed Proposal A, the Principal Residence Exemption, what “renewal” means, school operating revenue, voter registration, absentee voting and the ballot language.

Residents seeking additional information can also participate in upcoming district meetings. Harrison Community Schools will hold a community meeting regarding the millage on October 8 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. The Board of Education will meet October 12 at 5:30 p.m., with the district’s external audit scheduled to be presented. Both meetings will be held in the Board Room of the Harrison Community Schools Administrative Office building.

“We have people with different backgrounds and different connections to Harrison, but the common thread is that they care deeply about this community,” said Carrie Whitaker, a member of YES for Harrison Kids. “This effort has created conversations about our schools, our students and the future of Harrison. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken the time to learn about the proposal and become involved.”

YES for Harrison Kids advocates for a YES vote on November 3 and encourages voters to review the ballot language and available information before voting.

About YES for Harrison Kids

YES for Harrison Kids — Facts, Funding & Future is an independent, grassroots, community-led group advocating for passage of Harrison Community Schools’ Non-Homestead Operating Millage Renewal. Members volunteer their time to provide information and encourage community engagement.