Brought to you by Election Magic Michigan November 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016

Proposal Text

John Ball Zoo and Grand Rapids Public Museum --

For the purpose of establishing 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 increased by 0.44 mill ($0.44 on each $1,000 of taxable value) on all Real and Personal Property subject to taxation for the period 2016 through 2025, inclusive, which would be allocated equally to the John Ball Zoo and the Grand Rapids Public Museum? The amount raised by the levy in the first year is estimated at $9,292,644. To the extent permitted by law, a portion of the revenues from this millage will be captured by local authorities for authorized puposes. The total amount of captured tax increment revenues from such millage in the first calendar year of the levy is estimated at $414,070.26. The tax increment authorities in Kent County, capturing a portion of this tax levy, include the following: the Downtown Development Authorities of the Cities of Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Lowell, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming, the Charter Township of Cascade, and the Villages of Kent City and Sparta; the Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Rockford, Walker, Wyoming; and the Monroe North Tax Increment Financing Authority and SmartZone Local Development Finance Authority of the City of Grand Rapids.

Enhanced 9-1-1 Public Safety Dispatch --

To provide dedicated funding to pay for an enhanced 9-1-1 Public Safety Dispatch system including (1) technology upgrades (including communication towers and new equipment for dispatch and existing police, fire, and public safety agencies), and (b) annual funding for fire dispatch as provided in the county 9-1-1 service plan, shall Kent County be authorized to assess an additional $0.70 monthly surcharge on communication service suppliers' billings to service users within Kent County for the period beginning July 1, 2017 and continuing through June 30, 2036? If approved, the additional surcharge would raise an estimated $4,500,000 per year.

City of Walker Charter Amendment Proposal -- Term Limits

A Charter amendment is proposed to add a new Section 7.1A which would impose term limits on certain offices. If adopted, no person will be eligible for election as a City Commissioner if that person has served as a City Commissioner for two terms and no person will be eligible for election as Mayor if that person has served as Mayor for two terms. Shall the City of Walker Charter be amended by adding a new section 7.1A to set term limits of two terms as a City Commissioner and two terms as Mayor?

Village of Sand Lake -- Street Improvement Bond Proposal

Shall the Village of Sand Lake, Kent County, Michigan, borrow the principal amount of not to exceed Seven Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($775,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, payable over not to exceed 30 years from issuance to pay the costs of designing, constructing, reconstructing, and paving streets, streetscape improvements, and costs of related improvements? It is estimated that the 3.8035 mills ($3.8035 for each $1,000 of taxable value) will be levied in the first year that the millage is levied and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 3.83 mills ($3.83 for each $1,000 of taxable value).

Lowell Area Schools -- Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

This proposal will allow the School District to continue to levy not more than the statutory rate of 18 mills against 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 previous voted increase in the constitutional tax rate limitation on the amount of taxes imposed upon all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, within the school district of Lowell Area Schools, Kent and Ionia Counties, Michigan, be renewed in the amount of 18.00 mills ($18.00 per $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of six (6) years, 2017 through 2022, inclusive, to provide funds for school operating purposes (such renewal is estimated to provide revenues of approximately $2,724,238 in 2017 and includes a renewal of previously authorized millage in the amount of 18.00 mills which expires with the 2016 tax levy)?