Muskegon County asks voters for a 10-year parks tax and promises to drop its $7 park entry fee

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Muskegon County voters will be asked Nov. 3 to approve a new property tax for county parks and trails, a 10-year levy the county says would let it scrap the $7 daily and $25 annual vehicle fees now charged at county parks.

The Parks and Trails Millage would levy 0.5 mill, or 50 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value, according to the county parks department. It would begin in December 2026 and run through the 2035 tax year. If fully levied starting in 2027, the county estimates it would raise about $3.68 million a year.

The county’s own examples put the cost at $37.50 a year for a home with a market value of $150,000, $50 for a $200,000 home and $62.50 for a $250,000 home. Taxable value is roughly half of market value, the county notes.

For the owner of a $200,000 home, that is twice the price of the $25 annual park pass the tax would replace. The fee would be dropped starting with the 2027 season, the county says. The change would not apply to local, state or federal parks.

Today the county parks run on what they earn, from campground and vehicle-permit fees to rentals and grants, with no dedicated countywide tax, according to the parks department. It cites rising costs, aging facilities and growing maintenance needs.

About 70% of the money would go to county parks, regional trails and greenways, and countywide facilities such as the county fairgrounds and Heritage Landing. Up to 30% would be shared with the county’s 27 cities, villages and townships for their own parks. The county lists restrooms, campgrounds, beach access, playgrounds, boat ramps and kayak launches, trail connections, land purchases and added staff among possible uses.

The money could be spent only on parks, trails and recreation, the county says. The Muskegon County Parks Commission would recommend priorities, and the Board of Commissioners would approve spending in its annual budget.

If the proposal fails, the parks would keep operating on current revenue, according to the county, but daily parking and camping fees may rise and some improvements could be delayed.

Sources:
Muskegon County Parks, “Muskegon Parks & Trails Millage” (proposal summary and frequently asked questions), https://muskegoncountyparks.org/millage/
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, “Sand dunes, Muskegon shoreline,” Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/), cropped and color-corrected; derivative under the same ShareAlike license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sand_dunes,_Muskegon_shoreline_(16056767441).jpg

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