Kent County finance committee approves grants, park land purchase and tax agreements; authorizes winter millage levy

At its finance committee meeting, Kent County commissioners approved a package of grants, park projects, a tax-sharing extension with Byron Township and authorized a winter 2025 millage levy to fund several dedicated county services.

The actions affect a range of county programs and partnerships. Highlights include acceptance of a $255,000 Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Regional Community Collaborative (RCC) grant to fund the county’s Welcome Plan coordinator, part-time staff for an economic development effort and contractual services; authorization to accept $29,250 from the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to support senior center staffing for FY 2026 (contingent on contract execution); an additional $50,000 appropriation to the Register of Deeds automation fund to replace scanning equipment and support software updates; and the acceptance of $32,225 in donations to support the West Michigan Welcome Plan and related events.

Parks and land actions approved by the committee include accepting up to $150,000 from the Kent County Parks Foundation for a Millennium Park gateway sign and landscaping (the project budget is capped at $200,000) and approving the purchase of a 0.85-acre residential parcel at 1184 Maynard as a Millennium Park expansion site. The negotiated purchase…