Ann Arbor families are one step closer to keeping their 36 school buildings in repair without a tax increase.

Voters gave strong primary approval to the Ann Arbor Public Schools sinking fund millage renewal on Tuesday, Aug. 4, with 74.21% voting yes, according to unofficial results from the Washtenaw County Clerk reported by MLive. The measure still requires approval on the Nov. 3 general election ballot before it takes effect.

The measure passed 37,811 to 13,511.

The renewal would continue a 2.4031-mill levy — $2.4031 per $1,000 of taxable value — that voters first approved in 2017 and is set to expire in December 2026. It does not increase the tax rate. The millage is projected to generate more than $33 million in its first year, funding roof replacements, HVAC work, plumbing, paving, school security upgrades and ADA accessibility improvements across all 36 district buildings, which average more than 70 years old.

Superintendent Jazz Parks said in a statement on the district website on Thursday, Aug. 6, that the result represents a meaningful show of support the district does not take for granted. Parks noted that without the fund, facility repair costs would shift to the General Fund, which pays for teaching, student services and staff salaries.

The stakes behind the vote were significant. A February 2026 capital plan report presented to the Board of Education projected a $583 million shortfall in the district's capital program if voters rejected sinking fund renewals in 2026 and 2036. That same report warned negative cash flow could hit as early as 2028, forcing the district to scale back project timelines and scopes.

Recent sinking fund projects show the range of work the levy covers: a boiler replacement at Allen Elementary, an electrical transformer swap at Clague Middle School, and loading dock repairs at Scarlett Middle School, Forsythe Middle School, Ann Arbor Open, Community High School and Pittsfield Elementary. In 2025, the district used sinking fund dollars to install rooftop solar arrays at Clague Middle School and Skyline High School, adding more than 1,024 kilowatts of capacity.

The primary result advances the proposal to the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election ballot, where voters must approve it again for final enactment, according to the Michigan Daily.

The next AAPS Board of Education regular meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Earhart Administration Building, 3700 Earhart Road.