Ottawa County Parks looks to voters to secure more funding
Seeking to capitalize on decades of growing public support despite a tightening fiscal climate, the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission is recommending a significant increase to its dedicated property tax millage for the 2026 ballot.
OTTAWA COUNTY — Seeking to capitalize on decades of growing public support despite a tightening fiscal climate, the Ottawa County Parks and Recreation Commission is recommending a significant increase to its dedicated property tax millage for the 2026 ballot.
The proposal, approved by the commission at its February meeting, seeks to raise the current 0.33-mill levy to 0.53 mills. If authorized by the Board of Commissioners and approved by voters, the 0.2-mill increase would generate an estimated $102.5 million over 10 years beginning in 2027, according to the Parks Department.
For a resident with a home taxable value of $100,000, the annual cost would rise from $33 to $53.
Parks officials argue the increase is a matter of necessity rather than luxury. They contend that rising operational and maintenance costs are now fully consuming the revenue generated by the existing millage, leaving the department with little capital to expand trails, acquire new land, or maintain aging infrastructure at its more than 40 sites.
"Public feedback has been clear," Jason Shamblin, director of Ottawa County Parks and Recreation, said in a news release.
"Residents value our parks and want more access, better trail connections, and continued conservation. This recommendation reflects what we heard, and what it will take to deliver."
However, the request comes as the county faces a 2026 ballot with additional millage requests, and a Board of Commissioners already navigating complex financial shifts.
Central to the county’s current fiscal issues is the transition of Community Mental Health from a county department to an independent authority.
Although a 10-year special millage is already in place to support CMH services, it also is up for renewal this year. The agency also faces significant financial pressure, including a 3 percent rate increase for providers slated for this year.
Though no specific language for a mental health millage increase has been finalized for the upcoming ballot, the structural move to an authority model is intended to secure long-term funding stability for a department that, like the parks, is dealing with rising service costs.
Shamblin acknowledged that the parks department is just one voice in a larger conversation about limited county resources.
"The Parks Commission’s action is a recommendation only," Shamblin said. "The authority to determine whether a proposal is placed on the ballot rests with the Board of Commissioners, which must weigh this request alongside other county priorities, including any additional ballot considerations."
The Parks Department's 2024 Strategic Plan and the 2026 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan outline a "to-do" list if the funding is secured.
High-priority projects include major improvements at Rosy Mound Natural Area, the expansion of the Idema Explorers Trail, and the renovation of a historic barn at Eastmanville Farm to serve as a new park headquarters.
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The system currently attracts more than two million visitors annually. Officials say that for every $1 invested through the millage, the parks generate approximately $6 in local economic impact.
Read More: Parks department hopes voters will renew parks millage in 2026 to continue development
Historical data, according to Shamblin, suggests the public’s desire to see more from local parks has grown over time. The millage was first approved in 1996 with 53 percent of the vote, climbing to 67 percent in 2006 and reaching 72 percent during the last renewal in 2016.
But while scientific surveys conducted by the department showed strong support for land protection and trail connections, the Board of Commissioners must now decide if taxpayers are ready for a rate hike amidst broader funding challenges for essential services like mental health.
"Staff’s role has been to gather public input, analyze financial projections, and translate that information into options," Shamblin said. "If the board elects to place a proposal on the ballot, the final decision ultimately rests with voters."
The board of commissioners is expected to review the recommendation and potential ballot language in the coming months; it must be approved by April 28 to be placed on the August primary ballot.
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
