How to Prevent Sneaky Property Tax Hikes

In hundreds of communities across Michigan, efforts are afoot to raise your property taxes. Through stealth.

For decades, public school systems and local governments have placed millage votes—proposals to hike the property taxes on your home—on the ballot in May and August, knowing that few voters will show up.

It’s the worst-kept secret in politics: Nobody actually wants high voter turnout. Politicians would love it if only they and their staff showed up to vote. Campaigns would be cheaper, and success would be assured.

When only 10% or 15% or 20% of people vote, they’re the people most committed to showing up. These people are often government-involved or government-adjacent, and they benefit from tax hikes.

The news media helps, telling voters that the owner of a $100,000 home—when’s the last time you saw one of those?—would “only” go up $100. As you’ve probably learned in recent years, those Benjamins add up fast.

We’re not gonna take it anymore. Starting now, the mantra is No May Millage. It’s a two-part process to avoid sneaky tax hikes. It’s a bit like the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” from the days of old. Except it’s “don’t ask, vote no.”

Government officials in Michigan must stop suggesting May millages. We don’t want to hear about school calendars and fiscal years; that is your responsibility. Figure it out.

If you ask for a property tax hike in May and August, when you know most voters are tuned out, this will be taken as an act of deception. The people of Michigan don’t take kindly to such things.

Sneaky is the opposite of neighborly respect.

And voters, when millages do appear on the May ballot, must show up and reject them.

Any request that’s worthwhile will be worthwhile in November, when turnout is higher. Stealth tax increases are dirty.

Here’s how to never be caught unawares again:

First, get on the permanent absentee ballot list. You can’t get caught slipping when a ballot arrives at your home. Even a snowbird will usually get back to Michigan by May.

Second, check the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Under “Your Voter Information,” click “What’s on the ballot?”

Then click into May 5, 2026. Find your county, then look for your community.

If your community is not listed, you are marked safe from a property tax millage. For now. Make sure to check back in August.

If your community is listed, you can spread the No May Millage message in the most powerful way: By voting no, and telling friends to join you. The more May millages that fail, the fewer May millage votes we will get.

In Oakland County, we have a county-wide school millage on the August ballot.

This was such privileged information that the Rochester school board censured a member, Carol Beth Litkouhi, for sharing it before they wanted it shared.

Any government official who fears public scrutiny has something to hide. Their actions say they’re wary of attention from the taxpaying public. So let’s give it to them.

Come August in Oakland County, it’s our job to show up, and vote no, and say that these underhanded tactics are ineffective. Not just for Carol Beth. But for ourselves.

The days of stealth property tax hikes are over in Michigan.