Ottawa County voters supported renewals of the Community Mental Health Millage and Parks and Recreation Millage on Aug. 4.
CMH earned a renewal and restoration of 0.3 mills (63.7%-36.3%) from 2026 to 2035, according to unofficial election results. The millage will raise an estimated $5.64 million in 2026. The request comes as the organization begins a three-year transition plan from municipal department to standalone agency.
Parks and Recreation earned a renewal and restoration of 0.33 mills (66.7%-33.4%) from 2027 to 2036. The millage is used for acquiring, improving, operating, maintaining, restoring and protecting parks, trails, recreational facilities and other similar spaces. It will generate around $6.2 million in 2027.
The department will seek an increase of 0.2 mills on Nov. 3. According to the Parks and Recreation Commission, rising operational and maintenance costs fully consume current revenue from the existing millage. An expanded millage would allow for expanded trails, the protection of additional property and a response to growing public demand.
Ottawa County has a system of more than 40 parks and open spaces. According to officials, those parks generate approximately $6 in local economic impact for every $1 invested through the millage.
Here are other area proposal results, according to unofficial election tallies:
Park Township Public Safety Millage
Park Township voters approved a public safety millage renewal and increase at 1.6 mills (70.6%-29.4%) from 2027-2030. The millage will generate approximately $2.82 million in 2027.
Holland Township Public Safety Millage
Holland Township voters approved a public safety millage renewal and increase at 1.5 mills (70%-30%) for 2027-2030. The millage will raise an estimated $3.9 million in 2027.
Olive Township
Olive Township voters declined to support a road millage of 1 mill (51.5%-48.5%), but approved a fire rescue millage restoration and renewal at 0.75 mills (64.8%-35.2%) for 2026-2029. The latter millage will cover equipment and apparatus expenses, and generate an estimated $225,000 in 2026.
Overisel Township Road Millage
Overisel Township voters approved a road millage renewal at 2 mills (62.2%-37.8%) from 2027-2030. The measure will raise an estimated $558,858 in 2027.
Jamestown Township
Jamestown Township votes approved two millage requests Aug. 4, including a fire department operations restoration and renewal at 1 mill (63.3%-36.7%) from 2027-2030 and a renewal of 0.4040 mills for Patmos Library (57.4%-42.6%) from 2026-2030. The latter measure will generate around $308,000 in 2026.
The area’s voters, however, rejected a fire department operations millage increase at 0.30 mills (50.6%-49.4%) and a road improvement millage restoration and renewal at 1.5 mills (51.2%-48.8%).
Blendon Township Library Services
Blendon Township voters approved a millage for library services with the Lakeland Library Cooperative at 0.3 mills (52.1%-47.9%) from 2026-2037. The renewal and restoration will generate an estimated $142,822 in 2026.
Spring Lake Township Museum Millage
Spring Lake Township voters approved a museum millage renewal and restoration at 0.25 mills (59.6%-40.4%) for the Tri-Cities Historical Museum from 2027-2026. The measure will generate an estimated $332,300 in 2027.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Ottawa County voters support renewal for Community Mental Health
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
