Township Considers Placing Trails and Parks Tax Renewal on August Ballot
The Plainfield Township Board is scheduled to vote on whether to place a 10-year renewal of a property tax for non-motorized trails and public recreation areas on the August 4, 2026, ballot. The proposed rate is 0.4596 mills, the same as the current rate after mandatory rollbacks. If approved by voters, the tax would fund trail and park projects from 2026 through 2035 and is estimated to raise approximately $980,000 in its first year.
Current status Possible vote listed
A vote on a resolution to place the renewal of the Non-Motorized Public Trails and Recreation Areas millage on the August 4, 2026, ballot is scheduled for the May 11, 2026, Township Board meeting.
What this is Township Considers Placing Trails and Parks Tax Renewal on August Ballot
Timeline
- Agenda posted from agenda · published May 7, 2026
- Meeting scheduled Upcoming from meeting overview
- Resolution listed for a decision Upcoming from agenda · published May 7, 2026
- Possible vote listed Upcoming
Key facts
- The proposed property tax rate is 0.4596 mills, which is $0.4596 for every $1,000 of a property's taxable value.
- If approved by voters, the renewal would last for 10 years, from 2026 through 2035.
- The tax is estimated to generate about $980,000 in the first year.
- The original 10-year millage, approved in 2016, has funded over nine miles of paved trails.
- Staff recommended keeping the millage at the current rate without an increase due to the 'current economic environment.'
- If the Township Board approves the resolution, the renewal question will be placed on the August 4, 2026, primary election ballot for voters to decide.
Discretion or exceptions
- Township staff and a committee considered asking voters to increase the millage to its original 0.5 mills but decided against it, citing the 'current economic environment'.
Who could be affected
- Plainfield Township property owners
- Users of township parks and non-motorized trails
- The Comstock Park Downtown Development Authority, the Plainfield Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority, and the Plainfield Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, which would receive a portion of the tax revenue.
What could change
- If renewed by voters, the property tax of 0.4596 mills would continue for 10 years, from 2026 through 2035.
- The tax is estimated to raise about $980,000 in its first year for the acquisition, construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of trails and recreation areas.
- A portion of the tax revenue collected would be captured and disbursed to the Comstock Park Downtown Development Authority, the Plainfield Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority, and the Plainfield Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
- The annual cost for a property with a taxable value of $150,000 would be approximately $69.
What to watch
The Township Board will consider approving the resolution at its meeting on May 11, 2026. For the millage renewal to appear on the August 4, 2026, primary election ballot, the board must approve the resolution and ensure the Township Clerk submits it to the Kent County Clerk by the afternoon of May 12, 2026.
- Which specific trail or park projects are planned if the millage is renewed?
- How much of the estimated $980,000 in annual revenue would be captured by the other authorities versus how much would remain for the trails fund?
Questions to check
- The documents do not specify what portion or dollar amount of the millage revenue would be captured by the three other authorities (DDA, CIA, BRA).
- The specific trail and park projects that would be funded by the renewal are not listed in the provided documents, which refer generally to the Township's Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
Supporting records
These related records help explain the item, including the agenda listing, staff explanation, and draft text.
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A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND CERTIFY A NON-MOTORIZED PUBLIC TRAILS AND RECREATION AREAS MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL WHEREAS, in August 2016 Township voters approved a 10-year property tax millage for building public trails and enhancing public recreation areas in the Township ('the trails millage'); and WHEREAS, the Township has used the funds generated by the trails millage to construct over nine miles of paved trails,…
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PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP NON-MOTORZIED PUBLIC TRAILS AND PUBLIC RECREATION AREAS MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL In 2016, Plainfield Charter Township voters approved a ten-year property tax millage for building public trails and enhancing public recreation areas. Since then, the Township has constructed over nine miles of paved trails. If the voters approve the following millage, the Township intends to construct and ma…
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Millage Fund Summary The trails millage has generated approximately $6.4 million over the ten years. After covering the remaining expenses for the South Rogue River Trail, the trails millage fund balance is projected to be approximately $1.3 to $1.4 million.
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Millage Rate Details The trails millage was established at 0.5 mills in 2016. Due to required millage rollbacks, the most recent rate has been reduced to 0.4648 mils, which equates to $0.4648 per $1,000 of taxable value. The final millage revenue, collected with the last tax bill, generated about $910,000.
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Ballot Procedure -Millage Renewal: To be considered in the August primary election, the Township Board must approve a millage renewal resolution and submit it to the Township Clerk's office by 4 p.m. on May 12th, the day after the Township Board meeting. After the resolution is received by the Township Clerk's office, the Clerk must submit it to the Kent County Clerk. Arrangements have been made to meet this timelin…
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MEMO TO: Cameron Van Wyngarden, Township Superintendent FROM: Bill Fischer, Community Development Director and Joe Ketchum, Manager, Facilities & Assets Department DATE: May 6, 2026 RE: Non-Motorized Public Trails and Recreation Areas Millage Renewal This is a request for the Township Board to approve and certify a resolution for the Non-Motorized Public Trails and Recreation Areas millage (TRAM) renewal proposal. A…
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Recommendation: Over the past decade, the millage has directly enabled the construction of 9 miles of public trails, greatly enhancing recreational opportunities and community connectivity for our residents and visitors. To continue this success, we feel it is important to ask our voters to support a renewal of the millage which will ensure that these valuable assets are properly maintained for years to come, protec…
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Renewal Details: Staff and the P&R Committee recommend asking voters to approve a renewal of the 10-year TRAM at the current rate, with no increase. Other options considered were renewing with an increase to the original 0.5 mills or creating a new millage at a different rate. After discussion, based on the current economic environment, we believe this is not the right time to request a higher or different millage.…
Meeting history
Agenda and minutes records showing when this item appeared and what procedural step it reached over time.
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The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Consider approval and certification of a resolution for the Non-Motorized Public Trails and Recreation Areas millage renewal proposal Consider approval and certification of a resolution for the Non-Motorized Public Trails and Recreation Areas millage renewal proposal
Accuracy note
Civic Desk summarizes public records to make local issues easier to follow. Mistakes, omissions, or outdated details are possible, especially when an issue is still moving through meetings. Before relying on an item for an important decision, verify the details in the linked source documents or with the township directly.