Thursday, April 30, 2026

Yesterday, the Muskegon Community College (MCC) Board of Trustees unanimously approved placing an operating millage restoration proposal on the Tuesday, August 4 ballot. The proposal asks if Muskegon County voters want to restore 0.2705 mills and return MCC’s operating rate to the 2.4 mills originally approved in 1993.

The restoration comes after decades of reductions caused by the Headlee Amendment, which lowers millage rates when property values grow faster than inflation. As a result, MCC’s operating millage has been reduced to 2.1295 mills. The proposed restoration would return the rate to its original level and generate approximately $1.9 million annually to support the college’s operations and facilities.

“A lot has changed since 1993,” said Dr. John Selmon, President of Muskegon Community College. This proposal is about maintaining the foundation that supports student learning and access to opportunity across our community,” said Selmon. “Over time, the impact of Headlee rollbacks has reduced the college’s ability to keep pace with facility needs, emerging technology, and student expectations. Restoring the millage allows us to address those needs in a responsible and measured way.”

Funds from the restoration would be used to support improvements across campus, including updates to classrooms and student spaces, safety enhancements, and critical infrastructure upgrades, such as heating, cooling, roofing, and ADA accessibility. Many of these systems date back decades and require replacement to remain functional and reliable.

Chief Financial Officer Beth Dick emphasized that the proposal restores what voters previously approved over 30 years ago. “This is a return to the original millage rate that has been gradually reduced over time,” said Dick. “For a home with a market value of $250,000, the estimated cost is about $34 per year, or roughly nine cents a day. These funds would directly support the college’s ability to maintain safe, functional, and up-to-date learning environments for students.”

The proposal follows a community outreach effort that gathered more than 1,500 comments from residents. Feedback identified aging facilities, infrastructure needs, and student support as key priorities, with 71% of those polled saying they would be in support of restoring the operating millage.

All registered voters living within Muskegon County are eligible to vote in the August 4 election. To learn more about the operating millage restoration proposal, visit www.muskegoncc.edu/millage.