Royal Oak voters weigh a $165 million school bond and two city millage renewals on Nov. 3

ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Royal Oak voters will see three local money questions on the Nov. 3 ballot: a $165 million bond for Royal Oak Schools and two city millage renewals.

School bond. The district says the bond would pay for building infrastructure, technology, athletic upgrades and more early-childhood classrooms. It would be sold in three series over up to 15 years. The district pitches it as a no-rate-increase bond: it expects to keep the debt levy at or below the current 2.20 mills, with a first-year levy estimated at 1.41 mills and an average of 2.05 mills over the life of the bonds. The district's last bond, for $59 million, passed in 2017.

"No increase" means the rate would not go up, not that the tax goes away. Without the new bond, the existing debt levy would shrink as older bonds are paid off. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value.

Parks, forestry, recreation and animal shelter. The city asks voters to renew 0.70 mill for five years starting in 2027 to pay for parks, forestry, recreation, playgrounds and the animal shelter. Ballot summaries estimate it would raise about $2.93 million in the first year. Because it is a renewal of an existing rate, it would not raise taxes.

Senior services. A second renewal would continue 0.20 mill from 2027 through 2031 for senior center operations, activities and aging-in-place help. It is estimated to raise about $836,000 in its first year.

Oakland County voters also decide countywide questions, and school bonds across the county add up to nearly $837 million this fall, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Michigan voters can request an absentee ballot by mail or online through Friday, Oct. 30, and in person at the clerk's office through 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. Early in-person voting runs through Sunday, Nov. 1, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Sources:
Royal Oak Schools, “Bond 2026,” https://www.royaloakschools.org/bond_2026
Oakland County Elections, “Unofficial Proposal List, November 3, 2026 General Election,” https://elections.oaklandcountymi.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/31073/639130764277100000
City of Royal Oak, “2026 Millage Proposals,” https://www.romi.gov/1922/2026-Millage-Proposals
The Gist, “City of Royal Oak: parks, recreation and animal shelter millage renewal (0.70 mill),” https://thegist.vote/question/2026-general-mi/oakland-royal-oak-city-charter-amendment-for-renewal-of-parks-forest
The Gist, “City of Royal Oak: senior services millage renewal (0.20 mill),” https://thegist.vote/question/2026-general-mi/oakland-royal-oak-city-proposed-senior-services-millage-renewal
Detroit Free Press, “School bond proposals in Oakland County equal nearly $837 million,” Oct. 17, 2026, https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/17/837-million-school-bonds-oakland-county-elections/92103331007/
Photo: Joe Hall, “I Voted stickers sheet.jpg,” Nov. 4, 2006, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped and color-adjusted, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:I_Voted_stickers_sheet.jpg

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Tags: Royal Oak · Royal Oak Schools · School Bonds · Millages · Election 2026