By Bruce Rolfe
Local residents will face two county proposals in the August 4 Primary Election.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners will have a Childcare/Early Learning ballot proposal and the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority will have a Transportation millage request.
The Transportation Millage proposal is a renewal, however the Childcare/Early Learning proposal is a new County proposal.
If both are approved, the number of county millage levies will increase to eight. Taxpayers in the KRESA district are also paying three levies.
County election results show county residents are paying millage on:
• Juvenile Home millage passed by voters in 2006 (initial levy rate of 0.1620 mills) with the 25-year millage expiring December 31, 2030 and the maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding being 25 years.
• The 9-1-1 Central Dispatch 10-year, 0.65 mill proposal was approved in August, 2020 and the levy will remain in effect through 2029.
• The Law Enforcement And Safety Millage Renewal for 1.4380-mills and 6 years (2022-2027) was approved in May, 2022.
• A Veterans Services 10-year proposal (2023-2032) that may be assessed in any one year at a rate up to a maximum of an additional 0.10 of 1 mill was approved by voters in November, 2023.
• The Senior Services 6-year renewal proposal for 0.3462 mills over the duration of Dec. 1, 2024 extending through the 2029 levy was approved by voters in August, 2024. The Senior millage was initially approved by voters in August, 2018.
• The Housing For All 8-year proposal (2021-2028) approved in November 2020 is a 0.75 mill levy.
• The Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA) currently levies a public transit millage of 0.3124 mills that expires with the 2026 levy.
• The KRESA Enhancement millage for 1.5 mills and six years (2023-2028) was approved by voters in May, 2023.
• The KRESA Renewal and Restoration proposal for 1.5 mills and six years (2027-2032) that provides funding for mandated special education services and programs was approved by
voters in May, 2026.
• The KRESA Career and Technical Education 1 mill, 20-year proposal (2020-2039) was approved by voters in November, 2019.
The ballot language for the Childcare/Early Learning proposal states if approved, will provide funding for dedicated services and programs to Kalamazoo County residents with a focus on young children (0-5) and their caregivers, including, but not limited to, child care and providing funding for the County Department of Health and Community Services to administer related grants and programs.
The 0.5 mill proposal is for eight years from 2027 through 2034.
The proposal states for a property with a residential market value of $200,000, (with an estimated taxable value of $100,000) the 0.5 mills would equal approximately $50 of tax levied annually to support the programs.
If approved and levied in full, this millage would raise an estimated $6,393,624.00 in the first calendar year of its levy based on taxable value.
The previously authorized Public Transportation millage of 0.3124 mills will increase by 0.0476 mills to equal .36 total mills and would be levied for seven years (2027-2033) if approved.
The Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA) provides on demand public transit services to all Kalamazoo County through the Metro Connect program.
If approved, it is estimated to raise $4.6 million in its first year.
The long list of assessments that could get longer is concerning to two Kalamazoo County Commissioners.
County Commissioner Jeff Heppler said he has a concern Kalamazoo County taxpayers are already paying many other county-wide millages and for some, the financial impact could bring discomfort.
The County Commissioner also struggles how the additional tax cost example is being sold. The ballot states a taxpayer with an estimated tax value of $100,000 would pay an additional yearly tax of $50. Heppler feels there are likely many more houses that will be taxed with a higher estimated taxable value, meaning the additional tax would be much higher then $50.
“Some of us, we don’t want another millage on the ballot. We’ve already said that we have a housing crisis in the county. We don’t need to put more taxes on the people. This is going to impact them severly,” said Heppler.
Heppler adds there are many county residents that will receive no benefit from the childcare proposal but will be burdened with another tax if approved.
“We’re concerned about childcare, yes. But why should every taxpayer have to pay for everybody else’s kid,” adds the County Commissioner.
Heppler also struggles the Kalamazoo County Department of Health and Human Services does not specify programs or what specific providers and programs will receive the funding to operate programming if the Childcare/Early Learning proposal is approved.
The yesforfamilies.org website states the current priorities are to lower child care costs for families, raise provider wages, and make child care easier to find. Specific providers, discounts, and programs will require approval.
The website also states the millage would create long-term funding to develop programs based on community priorities and needs, allowing the county, community members, and partner organizations to shape programs through an accountable process rather than locking every detail into place before the funding exists.
The website adds the proposed fund would be designed with Kalamazoo County government oversight working in partnership with a community committee composed of local child care sector experts, and evaluation to support accountability and transparency.
Specific providers, discounts, and programs will require approval.
County Commissioner John Gisler also struggled with the growing number of county-wide tax millages.
“I don’t question the value of child care, how important it may be and how valuable it is for kids. But I don’t want to see another millage period,” said Gisler.
County Commissioner Jennifer Strebs said the County Health Department does not have direction from the Board of Commissioners about the design because the Commission looks at the collection coming in and then will make a determination about the needs.
“In general, some priorities that we’ll work to target is helping support wages for childcare workers. We have a huge shortage of childcare settings that are licensed, safe and high quality in the community because the workers make a poverty wage even though the cost is so expensive for families. So we would be able to provide a wage split along with the State of Michigan to shore up those wages and to retain and recruit childcare workers,” said Strebs.
She said another program the County Board of Commissioners has expressed interest in is expanding the use of the Tri-Share program. She said the Tri-Share program involves funding that could help bring businesses, the State of Michigan and families into splitting the cost of childcare three ways, reducing the cost burden for childcare providers and families.
Voters in the Athens School District will face an 18 mill, 4-year operating millage proposal.
The August 4 Primary ballot will also include Governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, State Senate, State Legislature and judicial races.
Depending on where voters reside, there are also opportunities for voters to vote for candidates in Kalamazoo Charter Township and Richland Township.
Local residents will face two county proposals in the August 4 Primary Election.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners will have a Childcare/Early Learning ballot proposal and the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority will have a Transportation millage request.
The Transportation Millage proposal is a renewal, however the Childcare/Early Learning proposal is a new County proposal.
If both are approved, the number of county millage levies will increase to eight. Taxpayers in the KRESA district are also paying three levies.
County election results show county residents are paying millage on:
• Juvenile Home millage passed by voters in 2006 (initial levy rate of 0.1620 mills) with the 25-year millage expiring December 31, 2030 and the maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding being 25 years.
• The 9-1-1 Central Dispatch 10-year, 0.65 mill proposal was approved in August, 2020 and the levy will remain in effect through 2029.
• The Law Enforcement And Safety Millage Renewal for 1.4380-mills and 6 years (2022-2027) was approved in May, 2022.
• A Veterans Services 10-year proposal (2023-2032) that may be assessed in any one year at a rate up to a maximum of an additional 0.10 of 1 mill was approved by voters in November, 2023.
• The Senior Services 6-year renewal proposal for 0.3462 mills over the duration of Dec. 1, 2024 extending through the 2029 levy was approved by voters in August, 2024. The Senior millage was initially approved by voters in August, 2018.
• The Housing For All 8-year proposal (2021-2028) approved in November 2020 is a 0.75 mill levy.
• The Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA) currently levies a public transit millage of 0.3124 mills that expires with the 2026 levy.
• The KRESA Enhancement millage for 1.5 mills and six years (2023-2028) was approved by voters in May, 2023.
• The KRESA Renewal and Restoration proposal for 1.5 mills and six years (2027-2032) that provides funding for mandated special education services and programs was approved by
voters in May, 2026.
• The KRESA Career and Technical Education 1 mill, 20-year proposal (2020-2039) was approved by voters in November, 2019.
The ballot language for the Childcare/Early Learning proposal states if approved, will provide funding for dedicated services and programs to Kalamazoo County residents with a focus on young children (0-5) and their caregivers, including, but not limited to, child care and providing funding for the County Department of Health and Community Services to administer related grants and programs.
The 0.5 mill proposal is for eight years from 2027 through 2034.
The proposal states for a property with a residential market value of $200,000, (with an estimated taxable value of $100,000) the 0.5 mills would equal approximately $50 of tax levied annually to support the programs.
If approved and levied in full, this millage would raise an estimated $6,393,624.00 in the first calendar year of its levy based on taxable value.
The previously authorized Public Transportation millage of 0.3124 mills will increase by 0.0476 mills to equal .36 total mills and would be levied for seven years (2027-2033) if approved.
The Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA) provides on demand public transit services to all Kalamazoo County through the Metro Connect program.
If approved, it is estimated to raise $4.6 million in its first year.
The long list of assessments that could get longer is concerning to two Kalamazoo County Commissioners.
County Commissioner Jeff Heppler said he has a concern Kalamazoo County taxpayers are already paying many other county-wide millages and for some, the financial impact could bring discomfort.
The County Commissioner also struggles how the additional tax cost example is being sold. The ballot states a taxpayer with an estimated tax value of $100,000 would pay an additional yearly tax of $50. Heppler feels there are likely many more houses that will be taxed with a higher estimated taxable value, meaning the additional tax would be much higher then $50.
“Some of us, we don’t want another millage on the ballot. We’ve already said that we have a housing crisis in the county. We don’t need to put more taxes on the people. This is going to impact them severly,” said Heppler.
Heppler adds there are many county residents that will receive no benefit from the childcare proposal but will be burdened with another tax if approved.
“We’re concerned about childcare, yes. But why should every taxpayer have to pay for everybody else’s kid,” adds the County Commissioner.
Heppler also struggles the Kalamazoo County Department of Health and Human Services does not specify programs or what specific providers and programs will receive the funding to operate programming if the Childcare/Early Learning proposal is approved.
The yesforfamilies.org website states the current priorities are to lower child care costs for families, raise provider wages, and make child care easier to find. Specific providers, discounts, and programs will require approval.
The website also states the millage would create long-term funding to develop programs based on community priorities and needs, allowing the county, community members, and partner organizations to shape programs through an accountable process rather than locking every detail into place before the funding exists.
The website adds the proposed fund would be designed with Kalamazoo County government oversight working in partnership with a community committee composed of local child care sector experts, and evaluation to support accountability and transparency.
Specific providers, discounts, and programs will require approval.
County Commissioner John Gisler also struggled with the growing number of county-wide tax millages.
“I don’t question the value of child care, how important it may be and how valuable it is for kids. But I don’t want to see another millage period,” said Gisler.
County Commissioner Jennifer Strebs said the County Health Department does not have direction from the Board of Commissioners about the design because the Commission looks at the collection coming in and then will make a determination about the needs.
“In general, some priorities that we’ll work to target is helping support wages for childcare workers. We have a huge shortage of childcare settings that are licensed, safe and high quality in the community because the workers make a poverty wage even though the cost is so expensive for families. So we would be able to provide a wage split along with the State of Michigan to shore up those wages and to retain and recruit childcare workers,” said Strebs.
She said another program the County Board of Commissioners has expressed interest in is expanding the use of the Tri-Share program. She said the Tri-Share program involves funding that could help bring businesses, the State of Michigan and families into splitting the cost of childcare three ways, reducing the cost burden for childcare providers and families.
Voters in the Athens School District will face an 18 mill, 4-year operating millage proposal.
The August 4 Primary ballot will also include Governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, State Senate, State Legislature and judicial races.
Depending on where voters reside, there are also opportunities for voters to vote for candidates in Kalamazoo Charter Township and Richland Township.
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