By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township’s fight to block the Silver Maple solar project is one of the largest line items in the township’s proposed budget for 2027.
Under the budget proposal outlined by Township Treasurer Melissa Veldheer Oct. 20, the township would transfer $400,000 out of its general fund to a solar intervenor fund that it established earlier this year after RWE submitted its application for approval of Silver Maple with the Michigan Public Service Commission. That amount is 11.7 percent of the total general fund appropriation of $3,421,200 planned for next year.
The township has already transferred $225,000 out of the general fund this year to the solar intervenor fund and may transfer additional funds before the end of the year, Veldheer said.
The solar intervenor fund was created to pay legal expenses tied to the township’s opposition to Silver Maple with the MPSC, as well as a lawsuit the township filed against RWE seeking to have Public Act 233, the state law regulating renewable energy projects in the state, declared unconstitutional.
“We’re investing to protect the interests of our township, and we understand those interests vary across our whole township, not just where (Silver Maple) is going. Because – what’s next?” Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma said.
“That is why we’re fighting it at the MPSC, and that is also why we’re arguing in the courts, challenging PA 233. It’s also trying to get bipartisan support (from lawmakers) for amending PA 233,” Bosma added.
The township is expected to take in $4,891,800 in revenues this year, with an expected surplus of $1.56 million in the general fund at the end of next year. That would boost the township’s overall reserves to nearly $20.4 million by Dec. 31, 2027. The township is expected to end this year using $658,900 of reserves, Veldheer said.
“This budget surplus in 2027 is due to postponing large capital expenditures to 2028,” Veldheer wrote in her budget memo. “The Township has seen its fund balance increase significantly in recent years which has allowed the Township to make these timely investments in its facilities, equipment and infrastructure.”
Proposed revenues from property taxes are expected to increase 9.3 percent, or $181,000, to $2,122,600, while state shared revenues are projected to drop 5.5 percent to $1,369,700, Veldheer said.
Other major investments planned in the township include:
• $40,000 ($20,000 this year and $20,000 next year) to hire a search firm to assist the township in hiring a new manager
• $60,000 over this year and next for updating the township master plan
• $245,000 for engineering work for a new bike path along Quincy Street east of 88th Avenue that is planned for construction in 2028
• $233,500 for Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office patrols in the township
• $50,000 for minor improvements to Drenthe Grove
• $43,000 for upgrading the township’s BS&A property tax records software account to the cloud
• $215,000 to the Howard Miller Library, a $15,000 increase (7.5 percent) from this year. “This contribution is equivalent to a 0.3 required library millage,” Veldheer wrote.
The township is planning to lower its overall millage rate to 5.4720 mills from its current level of 5.7195 by reducing its road millage from 0.9919 to 0.75 mills.
The Township Board will hold a public hearing Nov. 17 on the proposed budget. The board could have chosen to hold the hearing at its next meeting Nov. 4, but Bosma recommended holding the hearing on Nov. 17 so that incoming Supervisor Dan Kerkstra can be in attendance to hear the budget presentation.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland Township’s fight to block the Silver Maple solar project is one of the largest line items in the township’s proposed budget for 2027.
Under the budget proposal outlined by Township Treasurer Melissa Veldheer Oct. 20, the township would transfer $400,000 out of its general fund to a solar intervenor fund that it established earlier this year after RWE submitted its application for approval of Silver Maple with the Michigan Public Service Commission. That amount is 11.7 percent of the total general fund appropriation of $3,421,200 planned for next year.
The township has already transferred $225,000 out of the general fund this year to the solar intervenor fund and may transfer additional funds before the end of the year, Veldheer said.
The solar intervenor fund was created to pay legal expenses tied to the township’s opposition to Silver Maple with the MPSC, as well as a lawsuit the township filed against RWE seeking to have Public Act 233, the state law regulating renewable energy projects in the state, declared unconstitutional.
“We’re investing to protect the interests of our township, and we understand those interests vary across our whole township, not just where (Silver Maple) is going. Because – what’s next?” Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma said.
“That is why we’re fighting it at the MPSC, and that is also why we’re arguing in the courts, challenging PA 233. It’s also trying to get bipartisan support (from lawmakers) for amending PA 233,” Bosma added.
The township is expected to take in $4,891,800 in revenues this year, with an expected surplus of $1.56 million in the general fund at the end of next year. That would boost the township’s overall reserves to nearly $20.4 million by Dec. 31, 2027. The township is expected to end this year using $658,900 of reserves, Veldheer said.
“This budget surplus in 2027 is due to postponing large capital expenditures to 2028,” Veldheer wrote in her budget memo. “The Township has seen its fund balance increase significantly in recent years which has allowed the Township to make these timely investments in its facilities, equipment and infrastructure.”
Proposed revenues from property taxes are expected to increase 9.3 percent, or $181,000, to $2,122,600, while state shared revenues are projected to drop 5.5 percent to $1,369,700, Veldheer said.
Other major investments planned in the township include:
• $40,000 ($20,000 this year and $20,000 next year) to hire a search firm to assist the township in hiring a new manager
• $60,000 over this year and next for updating the township master plan
• $245,000 for engineering work for a new bike path along Quincy Street east of 88th Avenue that is planned for construction in 2028
• $233,500 for Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office patrols in the township
• $50,000 for minor improvements to Drenthe Grove
• $43,000 for upgrading the township’s BS&A property tax records software account to the cloud
• $215,000 to the Howard Miller Library, a $15,000 increase (7.5 percent) from this year. “This contribution is equivalent to a 0.3 required library millage,” Veldheer wrote.
The township is planning to lower its overall millage rate to 5.4720 mills from its current level of 5.7195 by reducing its road millage from 0.9919 to 0.75 mills.
The Township Board will hold a public hearing Nov. 17 on the proposed budget. The board could have chosen to hold the hearing at its next meeting Nov. 4, but Bosma recommended holding the hearing on Nov. 17 so that incoming Supervisor Dan Kerkstra can be in attendance to hear the budget presentation.
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