Kent County holds public hearing on 2026 budget; commissioners approve diaper bank and three grant amendments

The Kent County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and heard public comment before adopting four grant-related resolutions at its meeting on Aug. 14 in Grand Rapids.

Administrator Al Vandenberg presented the proposed budget, describing it as “more than just a set of numbers. It's our road map for the year ahead.” He said total sources of revenue for fiscal 2026 are $659,600,000 and the county’s all-funds budget is about $668,000,000. He told commissioners that 37% of revenue comes from taxes, with $212,000,000 from current property tax collections, and that the general fund proposed total is $254,800,000. Vandenberg said the county employs just over 2,000 full-time positions under the proposal.

Vandenberg outlined major functional allocations in the proposed budget: about $136,000,000 for public safety; $78,600,000 for judicial services; $123,300,000 for social services; $122,400,000 for general government and debt service; $72,600,000 for public works; $27,400,000 for community and economic development; and $25,800,000 for cultural activities. He noted Kent County holds a top credit rating and said a AAA rating lowers borrowing costs.

The administrator reminded the board that state statute requires a public hearing on the budget before passage and said the board is scheduled to act on the budget at its meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 8:30 a.m. The proposed budget is available online at kentcountymi.gov, he said.

Public comment at the hearing covered a range of topics. Dee Jones, a West Side resident, urged larger investments in community and economic development, affordable housing and eviction-prevention programs. Stephanie Rosales, representing the Arts and Culture Collective of Greater Grand Rapids, commended commissioners and staff for including planning dollars for the arts and described efforts to coordinate more than 100 arts organizations countywide. Environmental speakers including Bill Knapp and Terry Gates urged county action on resilience measures such as organic waste processing, energy efficiency and farmland preservation. Several speakers, including Daniel Scott and Jordan Sweezer, used the public-comment period to make religiously framed appeals related to abortion policy; their remarks were part of a broader set of general-county public comments later in the meeting.

During the meeting the board also considered and approved several agenda items on the consent calendar before taking votes on four resolutions tied to grants and program funding.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 52 — Diaper bank program (Community Action): Moved by Commissioner Oliver King; supported by Commissioner LeGrand. Approved by voice vote; chair announced the motion carried and the resolution was adopted.

- Resolution 53 — Supplemental appropriation to the Community Development Federal Project Fund (Community Action): Moved by Commissioner McLeod; supported by Commissioner Womack. Approved by voice vote; chair announced the motion carried and the resolution was adopted.

- Resolution 54 — FY2025 Adult Mental Health Court grant budget amendment (17th Circuit Court): Moved by Commissioner Sparks; supported by Commissioner Steck. Adopted by roll-call vote (clerk recorded 20 yays, 0 nays).

- Resolution 55 — FY2025 Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Regional Community Collaborative Grant budget amendment (Administrator’s Office): Moved by Commissioner McLeod; supported by Commissioner Pacla. Adopted by roll-call vote (clerk recorded 20 yays, 0 nays).

The board adopted the consent agenda earlier by roll call (clerk recorded 20 ayes, 0 nays). Commissioners also opened and later closed the public hearing (motion to open by Vice Chair Burrell; motion to close by Vice Chair Burrell) before returning to regular business.

Staff and commissioners’ remarks and later reports

Several commissioners and staff members highlighted county activities and community events. Administrator Vandenberg called attention to the first-ever Kent County North Community Fest at the North Services Complex in Cedar Springs and thanked department directors and fiscal staff for work on the budget. Commissioner Hildebrand reported on tourism and convention activity, saying hotel occupancy and convention business remain strong for the region. Chair Green read a Plainfield Township Fire Department dispatch report (Aug. 13) that noted a mother and juvenile rescued from a lake and expected to recover.

What happens next

County staff said the board will consider final action on the fiscal year 2026 budget at the Aug. 28 commission meeting at 8:30 a.m. Several speakers urged the board to increase investments in affordable housing, social services and environmental resilience; other public commenters praised county support for arts and community programs. The resolutions adopted at the meeting bring federal and state grant dollars or pass-through funding into county programs but do not change the county general fund appropriation, as described by staff for the diaper bank funding and other passed items.

(Quotes in this article are verbatim from the meeting transcript and are attributed to speakers listed in the article's speaker roster.)