“For the purpose of funding parks recreation land preservation operations and capital improvements.”
Director Wesley Deason says the Ada Township parks and recreation property tax would increase from point .62 to 1.2 mills.
“For a period of ten years.”
Township manager Julius Suchy says yearly parks and rec tax bills for property owners will go up about 48 percent.
“If you have a taxable value of 300 thousand dollars your total increase is 172 dollars and five cents. If you go up to 600-thousand-dollar taxable value you are going to end up paying 720, an increase of 344 dollars.”
If approved the increase will collect around 1 point eight million a year for park maintenance, vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure. If it does not pass in August, Suchy says the township could refine the message and ask again in November.
“Let’s say it loses. Then the township can pivot potentially look at a November ballot.”
The current millage expires at the end of 2026. Township treasurer Kevin Moran wants voters to know why the tax increase is necessary and they’ve hired Grand Rapids based Seyferth PR to help get out the message.
“I just want to make sure we are able to explain clearly to the constituents how we are doing it the right way. With the wonderful park work we have done over the years I don’t want to go backwards.”
