Southeast Michigan voters broadly supported local millage and ballot proposals in last week’s election, with nearly 86% of 21 millage proposals passing in the seven-county region. This compares favorably to the statewide results, where 83% of millage proposals passed.
After a softening of support in the May 2025 election, these results appear to be a return to form to recent election millage success rates, which have hovered at about 80% in recent elections.
Here are the overall results for millage and ballot proposals in Southeast Michigan:
Overall Southeast Michigan Results – August 5
| Total Passed | 18 | 85.7% |
| Total Failed | 3 | 14.3% |
Millage renewals and increases were universally supported across Southeast Michigan, with two exceptions: school bonding proposals and “other” millage increases. Two of the four “School Bond” proposals were defeated by voters.
“School Bond” Results – August 5, 2025
| Total Passed | 2 | 50.0% |
| Total Failed | 2 | 50.0% |
The sole “other” millage increase was also defeated by voters, and this request is noteworthy for its size and scope: 1.43 mils that would have generated $150M across a 25-year bond to fund a new police station, library, city center plaza, and renovations to five fire stations.
“Other Millage Increase” Results
| Total Passed | 0 | 0.0% |
| Total Failed | 1 | 100.0% |
As stated above, 18 millage requests in the region were approved by voters last week (including the two aforementioned “School Bond” proposals that were approved, representing strong support of local government millages, as well as school operating millage renewals and increases.
“Library Millage Renewal” Results
| Total Passed | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“Library Millage Increase” Results
| Total Passed | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“Public Safety Millage Increase” Results
| Total Passed | 2 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“Public Safety Bond” Results
| Total Passed | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“School Operating Millage Renewal” Results
| Total Passed | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“School Operating Millage Increase” Results
| Total Passed | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“Sinking Fund Millage Renewal” Results
| Total Passed | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“Sinking Fund Millage Increase” Results
| Total Passed | 1 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
“Other Millage Renewal” Results
| Total Passed | 2 | 100.0% |
| Total Failed | 0 | 0.0% |
For individual millage descriptions and results, sorted by county and community, please see SEMCOG’s Southeast Michigan Ballot Proposal/Millage Election Results list.
View results listICYMI: SEMCOG Webinar Focuses on Data Storytelling to Champion Millages
With federal and state funding streams in flux, local governments and education institutions may need to turn to taxpayers increasingly to support critical services, infrastructure, and facilities improvements.
Earlier this year, SEMCOG and Munetrix presented a webinar “Using Data Storytelling to Champion Millages” to educate local leaders on effectively including data to support millage requests in their communities. The webinar can be viewed below.
If there are other resources your community needs to make your millage proposals more successful, please let us know!
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