Ottawa County asks for its first parks millage increase in 30 years, and Grand Haven schools return with a $98.55 million bond

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — Voters across Ottawa County will decide Nov. 3 whether to raise the county’s parks and open space millage for the first time since it began in 1996, and voters in the Grand Haven Area Public Schools will decide a $98.55 million bond.

County parks. In August, 66.7% of voters renewed the county’s existing 0.33-mill parks levy for another 10 years, according to the county. The November question is a separate increase of up to 0.20 mill for 2027 through 2036, which would bring the total to 0.53 mill. The ballot language estimates the increase would raise $3,763,230 in 2027. A property with $200,000 in taxable value would pay $40 more a year, the county said.

The county board approved the two-step plan in April after a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission. Parks Director Jason Shamblin said at the time the focus was “ensuring the community has clear, accurate information.” The county says the renewed 0.33 mill now goes largely to operations and maintenance, leaving little room for growth.

According to the county, the increase would pay for expanded trail and water access along four major greenways; new year-round accessible restrooms at Riley Trails, Paw Paw Park, Bend Area, Rosy Mound, Eastmanville Farm and Grand Ravines; snow removal on designated regional trails; natural area restoration; $3 million for land purchases, especially next to existing parks; nature education spaces; and playscapes at Paw Paw Park and Hemlock Crossing. The county’s millage page links a personalized tax estimate at miOttawa.org/taxes.

Grand Haven schools. The Grand Haven Area Public Schools bond would borrow up to $98.55 million for building construction and remodeling, equipment and furnishings, school buses, technology, and playgrounds and sites. The ballot language estimates 1.95 mills in 2027 and an average of 1.15 mills a year over the life of the bonds, which could run up to 25 years.

Ferrysburg. City voters will decide whether to renew the street millage and restore it to the original 1.5 mills from a rolled-back 1.4076, raising about $435,000 in the first year. Two charter amendments would lower the number of signatures needed on a nominating petition to between six and 20, and remove a requirement that the clerk write the petition’s validity determination on its face.

Elsewhere in the county, Park Township has a parks millage renewal and increase to 0.7 mill, Jamestown Charter Township has road and fire levies, and Allendale Public Schools has two bond proposals.

Monday, Oct. 19, was the last day to register to vote online or by mail. After that, residents can still register in person at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency, through 8 p.m. on Election Day. Statewide early in-person voting runs Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can check their registration and see their sample ballot at Michigan.gov/Vote.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026: The Oct. 19 deadline to register to vote online or by mail has passed, so the voting details now say so. Residents can still register in person at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Sources:
Ottawa County, “2026 Parks Millage” (August renewal result, November increase, projects, cost example, history), https://miottawa.org/parks/parks-millage/
Ottawa County, press release, “Ottawa County Parks and Open Space Millage to Appear on August and November Ballots,” May 1, 2026 (board action, combined rate, Shamblin quote, ballot language), https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIOTTAWA/bulletins/414f01d
Ottawa County Clerk, “Ottawa County Proposals, November 3, 2026 General Election” (parks increase, Ferrysburg, Jamestown, Park Township, Allendale and Grand Haven Area Public Schools ballot language), via WGVU, https://dc79r36mj3c9w.cloudfront.net/prod/filer_public/wgvu-bento-live-pbs/Vote%20of%20Confidence/County%20Proposals/General%20Election/2bc73b88be_Ottawa%20County%202026%20General%20Election%20Proposals.pdf
Michigan Department of State, “Absentee voting” and election calendar (registration, early voting and absentee deadlines), https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/absentee-voting
Photo: Chris Light, “Rosy Mound Nature Area PA200098.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), cropped; derivative under the same license, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosy_Mound_Nature_Area_PA200098.jpg

Tri-Cities · Election 2026 coverage

Tags: Tri-Cities · Election 2026 · Ottawa County · Parks · Millage · Schools