On November 3rd, Walker voters will consider a dedicated 10-year, 1.75-mill ballot proposal. If approved, it will enable the city to fully staff all three of its fire stations for 24/7 service, improve firefighter living quarters and construct a new, larger police department headquarters.
City officials say the fire department responds to twice as many calls as it did a few years ago, while police officers are often called in on overtime during critical incidents. Assistance is often requested from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office or neighboring police departments, increasing response times.
Walker has seen steady, modest growth over the past decade, experiencing a growth rate of about .5% annually. The current population is just over 25,000 residents, the highest population to date.
If approved, a resident whose home has a taxable value of $273,000 would pay around $478 annually, or roughly $40 per month for 10 years.
For a weekly dose of news right to your inbox, sign up for the WGVU newsletter.
