UM’s President’s House Purchase Sparks Questions
University of Michigan’s president, Santa Ono, is currently in the spotlight due to the recent purchase of a swanky half-a-million-dollar house he bought in Oakland County. This move prompted several questions around his contractual obligations and tax matters.
Tradition has it that UM’s president’s house, recently revamped for $11.5 million, is expected to be the permanent residence of University of Michigan’s president. While previous university presidents have owned additional homes, Santa Ono’s contract states clearly that he’s required to live in the presidential house.
However, it’s interesting to note that Ono has registered his driver’s license and voter registration to his new West Bloomfield Township house in Oakland County where he’s claimed he’ll only be living during holidays or on weekends.
Ono’s new declaration of residency, of course, has prompted local tax assessors’ review in Oakland County. There’s been some doubt as Ono has claimed Michigan’s principle housing tax exemption on his new house. Basically, this exemption allows you to not pay up to 18 mills of school operating tax on your primary residence. This has saved Santa Ono around $3,800 this year on his property taxes.
Many believe it’s not a clear-cut case as it seems Ono is trying to live most of his time in two different places. In response to these claims, UM asserts that President Ono strikes a balance between living at the presidential house and his West Bloomfield home.
Ono’s actions have stirred mixed reactions amongst the university’s faculty, regents, and students. While some believe it’s crucial for the university president to reside on campus for community engagement, others feel that it’s not an issue as long as he is fulfilling his professional duties efficiently.
While it does appear that Santa Ono has found a workaround to his contractual and tax obligations, whether he has violated any federal tax laws is still up for discussion.
Intriguingly, it’s not the first time a university president has bought a house while still contracted to live in the university’s official residence. Former Northern Michigan University President, Fritz Erickson, had also bought an off-campus house for some downtime. He voiced that continuously “living on campus was akin to always being at work.”
Till The Dust Settles
Meanwhile, all attention seems to be on West Bloomfield’s local tax assessor, Robert Scripture, who’s set to review and decide on the legitimacy of Santa Ono’s primary residence exemption filed on his new house. If denied, the case would be handed over to the state, with room for an appeal by Ono.
Whether or not Santa Ono’s appeal succeeds or backfires, is, for now, up in the air.
Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER
The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
