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Michigan › Kent County › City of Walker

What's on the ballot in City of Walker, Kent County

Michigan General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. · Early voting Oct 24–Nov 1. Every local race and proposal on the official Walker City sample ballot (6 precincts; some items vary by precinct). Enter your address in the app to see your exact ballot with every candidate graded.

See every candidate on your Walker City ballot, graded on faith, family and the Constitution.
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Your district races

U.S. House — District 3

State Senate — District 30

State House — District 84

Statewide races (every Michigan ballot)

Governor

U.S. Senate

Secretary of State

Attorney General

Also on your ballot: Governor · U.S. Senate · Secretary of State · Attorney General · Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats) · State Board of Education (2 seats) · U-M Board of Regents (2 seats) · MSU Board of Trustees (2 seats) · Wayne State Board of Governors (2 seats) · Proposal 26-1 · Proposal 26-2 · all district races.

Local races in Walker City (12)

Court of Appeals District 3 — Judge of Court of Appeals

Judicial · Vote for up to 2. Incumbent Position.

17th Circuit Court — Judge of Circuit Court

Judicial · Vote for up to 3. Incumbent Position.

Kent County Probate Court — Judge of Probate Court

Judicial · Vote for one. Incumbent Position.

Grand Rapids Community College — Board of Trustees Member

Community College · Vote for up to 2. 6 Year Term.

Grand Rapids Community College — Board of Trustees Member

Community College · Vote for one. Partial Term Ending 12/31/2030.

Walker City Mayor

City · Vote for one.

Ward 2 — Council Member by Ward

City · Vote for one. · Appears on ballots in 2 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

Kenowa Hills Public Schools — Board Member

School Board · Vote for up to 4. 4 Year Term. · Appears on ballots in 5 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

Ward 3 — Council Member by Ward

City · Vote for one. · Appears on ballots in 2 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

Grandville Public Schools — Board Member

School Board · Vote for up to 3. 6 Year Term. · Appears on ballots in 2 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

Ward 1 — Commissioner

City · Vote for one. Partial Term Ending 12/01/2028. · Appears on ballots in 2 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

Comstock Park Public Schools — Board Member

School Board · Vote for up to 4. 4 Year Term. · Appears on ballots in 1 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

Local proposals & millages (5)

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.

Kent County Millage Renewal Zoo and Museum Millage

Millage Renewal0.4086 mills2026–2035est. $15,562,948/yr

Renews the 2016 John Ball Zoo / Grand Rapids Public Museum millage at a slightly lower 0.4086 mill for 2026–2035 (~$15.6M/year) for animal and artifact care, exhibit repair and education programs.

Cost to you: About $41/year per $100,000 of taxable value.

YESA YES vote continues the existing levy of 0.4086 mills for 2026–2035 — generally no increase over what you pay now.
NOA NO vote lets the current millage expire; the service it funds would need cuts or other revenue.
Official ballot language

For the purpose of renewing dedicated funding for the care of animals and artifacts, repair and improvement of exhibits, and providing enhanced educational programs, shall the total limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all taxable property in Kent County be renewed at 0.4086 mill ($0.4086 on each $1,000 of taxable value) on all Real and Personal Property subject to taxation for the period 2026 through 2035, inclusive, which would be allocated to the John Ball Zoo and the Grand Rapids Public Museum? The amount raised by the levy in the first year is estimated at $15,562,948.00. 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 $399,110.86. The tax increment authorities in Kent County, capturing a portion of this tax levy, include the following: the Downtown Development Authorities for the Cities of Cedar Springs, Grandville, Lowell, Rockford, and Walker, the Charter Township of Cascade, the Townships of Bowne, Sparta, and Tyrone; the Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities of Cascade Township, Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kent County, Kentwood, Plainfield Charter Township, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming; the Monroe North Tax increment Financing Authority; and Corridor Improvement Authority of the City of Grand Rapids.

City of Walker Proposal to Authorize a New Additional Millage for Public Safety of 1.75 Mills

New Millage / Increase1.75 mills10 years (2027–2036)est. $3,065,105/yr

NEW 1.75-mill public safety millage for 2027–2036 (~$3.1M/year) for police and fire capital and operating costs.

Cost to you: About $175/year per $100,000 of taxable value.

YESA YES vote approves a new levy of 1.75 mills for 10 years — this is a tax increase.
NOA NO vote rejects the new tax; your property tax rate stays where it is.
Official ballot language

Shall Section 9.5, Chapter IX, of the City of Walker Charter be amended to authorize a new additional millage of 1.75 mills ($1.75 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) to be levied solely for providing funds for capital and operating expenses for police and fire for a period of ten (10) years from 2027 to 2036? (If levied, the additional 1.75 mills are estimated to raise $3,065,105 in the first year of the levy. To the extent required by law, a portion of the revenues from this millage will be disbursed to the City's Brownfield Redevelopment and Downtown Development Authorities.)

Kenowa Hills Public Schools Operating Millage Proposal

Millage Restoration (Headlee Override)18 mills10 years (2027–2036)

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. The remaining 2 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction. Shall…

YESA YES vote raises the levy back to the originally authorized 18 mills, overriding the Headlee Amendment rollback — this is a tax increase over the current rate.
NOA NO vote keeps the current, rolled-back rate in place.
Official ballot language

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. The remaining 2 mills are only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Kenowa Hills Public Schools, Kent and Ottawa Counties, Michigan, be increased by 20 mills ($20.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 10 years, 2027 to 2036, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2027 is approximately $17,226,786 (this authorization would allow the district to continue to levy millage that expired with the 2026 tax levy)?

Appears on ballots in 5 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

Comstock Park Public Schools Operating Millage Proposal

Millage Restoration (Headlee Override)18 mills4 years (2027–2030)est. $50,000/yr

This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Comstock Park Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be increased by 3 mills…

YESA YES vote raises the levy back to the originally authorized 18 mills, overriding the Headlee Amendment rollback — this is a tax increase over the current rate.
NOA NO vote keeps the current, rolled-back rate in place.
Official ballot language

This proposal will allow the school district to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Comstock Park Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be increased by 3 mills ($3.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 4 years, 2027 to 2030, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2027 is approximately $50,000 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?

Appears on ballots in 1 of 6 precincts in Walker City — check your official sample ballot.

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