KENT COUNTY, Mich. — If you live in Kent County, odds are you'll have something to vote for in the upcoming November general election.
Election day is Nov. 7, 2023.
Here's the list of ballot language that certain voters will see when they cast their vote:
Alpine Township Rezoning Ordinance No. 23-01 Adopted on April 17, 2023
The Alpine Township Board adopted Rezoning Ordinance No. 23-01 on April 17, 2023. The ordinance amended the Alpine Township Zoning Ordinance to rezone property located in Alpine Township commonly known as 2451 and 2555 4 Mile Road NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544 (Permanent Parcel ID#s: 41-09-33-400-036 and 41-09-33-400-035) from R-1 Low Density Residential to OSN-PUD Open Space Neighborhood Planned Unit Development, in order to allow for a future housing development known as Wilder Crossings.
Shall Rezoning Ordinance No. 23-01, as adopted by the Township Board, be approved?
Kent District Library Millage Renewal Proposal
Shall the Kent District Library, Kent County, Michigan, be authorized to levy a renewal of the previously voted increase in the tax limitation which expires in 2024, in an amount not to exceed 1.1 mills ($1.10 per $1,000 of taxable value) (which is a lower rate than the previously voted millage of 1.28 mills that was approved by voters in 2014 and expires in 2024) annually against all taxable property within the Kent District Library district for a period of fifteen (15) years, 2025 through 2039, inclusive, to operate the Kent District Library and provide funds for district library purposes authorized by law? This millage is estimated to provide revenues of $26,607,000 in the first year (2025) of the levy. To the extent required by law, a portion of the revenues from this millage (estimated to be approximately 1.1% in the first year of the levy) will be captured by or disbursed to the following local authorities: the Kent County Land Bank Authority and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities of the Cities of Grandville, Kentwood, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming.
Cedar Springs Public Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal
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 and renews millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy. Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 17.4373 mills ($17.4373 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Cedar Springs Public Schools, Kent and Newaygo Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2025 to 2034, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 17.4373 mills are levied in 2025 is approximately $3,350,231 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy)?
East Grand Rapids Public Schools Bond Proposal
Shall East Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed One Hundred Fifty-Eight Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($158,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; acquiring, installing, equipping and re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; erecting and equipping a structure supporting an addition at the high school; and acquiring, preparing, developing, improving and equipping athletic fields, playgrounds and facilities and sites? The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2024, under current law, is 0.58 mill ($0.58 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 0 mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 5.43 mills ($5.43 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $6,709,832 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $3,150,309. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is eleven (11) years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 9.95 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $62,915,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is approximately $4,014,969. (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
Forest Hills Public Schools I. Bond Proposal
Shall Forest Hills Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Three Hundred Forty Million Dollars ($340,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: remodeling, equipping and re-equipping and furnishing and refurnishing school buildings; erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to school buildings; acquiring, installing and equipping or re-equipping school buildings for instructional technology; purchasing school buses; erecting, furnishing and equipping athletic facilities; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping playgrounds, play fields, athletic fields, athletic facilities and sites?
The following is for informational purposes only:
The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2024 is 2.00 mills ($2.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a 0 mills net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-one (21) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.46 mills ($3.46 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
Forest Hills Public Schools II. Operating Millage Proposal
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 Forest Hills Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 2 years, 2024 and 2025, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2024 is approximately $395,000 (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)?
Grand Rapids Public Schools Bonding Proposal
Shall Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, borrow a sum of not to exceed Three Hundred Five Million Dollars ($305,000,000) and issue its general obligation, unlimited tax bonds in two or more series for the purposes of:
- purchasing, erecting, completing, remodeling, and equipping or re-equipping school buildings, including library buildings, auditoriums, structures, athletic fields, playgrounds, playfields and other facilities, and parts of or additions to those facilities, and acquiring, preparing, developing and improving sites, or parts of or additions to sites, for school buildings;
- furnishing or refurnishing school buildings and parts of or additions to those facilities; and
- acquiring, installing, and equipping or re-equipping school buildings and parts of or additions to school buildings for technology, technology infrastructure and safety and security improvements?
The following is for informational purposes: The annual millage required to pay the debt service on the proposed and outstanding bonds is estimated to remain at or below the 2023 levy of 3.85 mills. The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2024 is 1.00 mill ($1.00 for each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a zero (0) mill increase from the prior year's levy. The estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 1.83 mills ($1.83 for each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years that any series of the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, will not exceed twenty-six (26) years from the date of each issue. (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the bond proceeds cannot be used for maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)
Greenville Public Schools Operating Millage Proposal
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 full revenue per pupil foundation allowance and restores millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Greenville Public Schools, Montcalm, Kent and Ionia Counties, Michigan, be renewed by 17.9083 mills ($17.9083 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 5 years, 2025 to 2029, inclusive, and also be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 6 years, 2024 to 2029, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 0.0917 mill is levied in 2024 is approximately $24,518 and 18 mills are levied in 2025 is approximately $5,005,162 (this millage is to renew millage that will expire with the 2024 levy and to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the "Headlee" amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?
Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency I. Special Education Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal will allow the intermediate school district to continue to levy special education millage previously approved by the electors.
Shall the currently authorized charter millage rate limitation of 1.1305 mills ($1.1305 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency, Michigan, to provide funds for the education of persons with disabilities, be renewed for a period of 8 years, 2025 to 2032, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2025 is approximately $2,034,900 from local property taxes authorized herein (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy)?
Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency II. Area Vocational - Technical Education Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal will allow the intermediate school district to continue to levy millage previously approved by the electors for area vocational-technical education programs.
Shall the currently authorized charter millage rate limitation of 0.2354 mill ($0.2354 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency, Michigan, to provide funds for area vocational-technical education programs, be renewed for a period of 8 years, 2025 to 2032, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2025 is approximately $423,720 from local property taxes authorized herein (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy)?
Rockford Public Schools Millage Renewal Proposal to Provide Funds to Operate a System of Public Recreation and Playgrounds
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy public recreation millage previously approved by the electors that will expire with the 2023 levy.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of .9125 mill ($0.9125 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Rockford Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 20 years, 2024 to 2043, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for operating a system of public recreation and playgrounds; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect for such recreation program if the millage is approved and levied in 2024 is approximately $2,356,733 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2023 tax levy)?
WHAT’S ON MY BALLOT?
Helpful links for the Nov. 7 general election:
Click here to find out what is on your ballot.
Click here to find out if you are registered to vote.
Click here to find out how to register to vote.
Click here to find your polling place.
Click here to find out where to drop off your absentee ballot.
Click here to find more helpful links.
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