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 price for the parcel is $550,000; the county has $400,000 set aside from ARPA for land acquisition and the Parks Foundation committed up to $200,000 to cover remaining costs.

The committee approved an extension of the tax-sharing agreement with Byron Township and the 80 Fourth Street Corridor Improvement Authority (the district containing the Tanger Outlet Mall). The proposed agreement extends capture of county millage increment through May 19, 2034, and includes a one-time execution payment of $24,587 to account for the final year of capture under the prior agreement. Under the arrangement the authority may capture incremental county millage only to the extent Byron Township contributes an equal increment; county staff said they expect incremental amounts will be modest going forward.

Commissioners also authorized the winter 2025 levy of dedicated county millages supporting corrections and detention (0.7417 mills for operating and debt service), senior services (0.4914 mills), veteran services (0.0491 mills), zoo and museum operations (0.4134 mills), and Ready by Five programming (0.2476 mills), for a combined levy of 1.9432 mills to fund FY 2026 budgeted operations.

All motions on the reported items passed on voice votes. Movers and supporters recorded in the transcript include Commissioner Steck, Commissioner Halstead, Vice Chair McLeod, Commissioner Green and others as indicated at each agenda item.

Why it matters: the approvals allocate county and partner funds to seniors, parks, immigrant and refugee welcome services, and capital work that will affect county operations and local development over coming years.

Selected details of approved items: - Register of Deeds automation fund: additional appropriation of $50,000 to FY 2025 budget; purpose: unbudgeted scanner replacement and vendor payments. - Area Agency on Aging / Kent County Community Action: $29,250 in senior millage funds for one part-time staff position to support congregate meals and senior center programming (FY 10/01/2025–09/30/2026), contingent on contract. - Millennium Park gateway sign: accept up to $150,000 from Kent County Parks Foundation; project budget capped at $200,000; demolition of prior structures occurred in 2024; construction anticipated in 2025–2026. - Millennium Park land purchase: 0.85-acre parcel at 1184 Maynard, negotiated price $550,000; county ARPA allocation $400,000; Parks Foundation committed up to $200,000 to complete acquisition. - West Michigan Welcome Plan donations: accept and appropriate $32,225 to support a global gathering (09/13/2025), an economic summit (08/08/2025) and related outreach; CoreWell Health pledged $10,000. - LEO RCC grant: accept and appropriate $255,000 to FY 2026 special projects fund; $180,000 to welcome plan implementation and expansion (Kent and Ottawa counties), $75,000 to RCC economic development activities; grant term 10/01/2025–09/30/2026. - Tax-sharing agreement (Byron Township / 80 Fourth St. Corridor Improvement Authority): extension to 05/19/2034; one-time payment $24,587; capture limited to county increment matching Byron Township’s contribution. - Winter 2025 dedicated millage levy: authorization to levy 1.9432 mills (detailed breakdown above) to support FY 2026 budgets for corrections and detention, senior services, veteran services, zoo museum operations and Ready by Five programming.

Meeting context and next steps: staff will execute grant agreements and contracts as authorized (several approvals were contingent on form review and contract execution). The Parks Department plans to bid the Millennium Park sign project in 2025 with construction in 2026; property acquisition requires standard closing documentation. For the RCC grant, staff noted pending receipt of the state grant agreement and a standard corporate counsel review prior to signature.

Ending: commissioners voiced support for the package of appropriations and partnerships, and the committee moved on after approving the final millage levy.