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Kent County Millage Renewal and Increase Corrections and Detention Facilities

Kent County · Kent County · on the November 3, 2026 ballot in Ada Township, Algoma Township, Alpine Township, Bowne Township, Byron Township, Caledonia Township, Cannon Township, Cascade Township, Cedar Springs City, Courtland Township and 20 more.

Kent County Millage Renewal and Increase Corrections and Detention Facilities

Millage Renewal with Increase0.98 mills2026–2045est. $37,326,699/yr

Renews the 1990 jail millage early (it would expire after 2029) AND raises it from 0.7332 to 0.98 mill for 20 years (2026–2045) to expand and remodel the 1972-era jail and juvenile detention, adding medical, mental-health and substance-use treatment space. ~$37.3M first year. The county board approved it 11–5 over objections about the tax burden.

Cost to you: $98/year per $100,000 of taxable value — up $24.68 from the current $74.17.

YESA YES vote continues the existing levy of 0.98 mills for 2026–2045 — generally no increase over what you pay now, plus the restored or added amount described.
NOA NO vote lets the current millage expire; the service it funds would need cuts or other revenue.
Official ballot language

Shall Kent County levy 0.98 mill ($0.98 per $1,000 of taxable value) on the taxable value of all real and personal property subject to taxation for the period 2026 through 2045 inclusive to expand, remodel, equip, operate, maintain, and defray debt service for Kent County Correction and Detention Facilities? This millage is a renewal of the previously authorized millage which expires following the 2029 levy as well as an authorization to increase the existing millage by 0.2468 mill ($0.2468 per $1,000 of taxable value). The amount raised by the proposed levy in the first calendar year is estimated at $37,326,699.00. To the extent permitted by law, a portion of the revenues from this millage will be captured by local authorities for authorized purposes. The total amount of captured tax increment revenues from such millage in the first calendar year of the levy is estimated at $1,497,204.07. The authorities in Kent County capturing a portion of the revenues from this levy include the following: the Downtown Development Authorities for the Cities of Cedar Springs, Grandville, Lowell, Rockford, Walker, the Charter Township of Cascade, and the Townships of Bowne, Sparta, and Tyrone; the Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming; and the Monroe North Tax increment Financing Authority of the City of Grand Rapids, Local Development Financing Authority of the City of Grand Rapids, and the Corridor Improvement Authority of the City of Grand Rapids.

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Plain-English summaries and the YES/NO explanations are ours; the ballot language above is the official text from the Michigan Secretary of State sample ballot. Confirm with your clerk if anything differs on your ballot.

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