11/18/22 - Kent County Finalizes A New Budget

Kent County Commissioners voted to adopt a new $440.2 million dollar budget.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (November 17, 2022) – The Kent County Board of Commissioners voted today to adopt a Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which will run from January 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023. It is a nine-month budget to align the County’s fiscal year with State and Federal sources and to reset the County’s fiscal year end to September 30 which will gain internal efficiencies.

The total budget is $440.2 million and includes $371.6 million for operating expenditures, $13.6 million for capital improvements, and $59.9 million to support other funds.

“The budget is structurally balanced, protects our financial reserves, and supports critical needs in our region,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Stan Stek. “I am proud the County Board came together once again and unanimously adopted a spending plan will keep Kent County moving forward.”

The budget is driven by the County’s strategic plan to ensure investments support the community’s short and long term needs. Highlights of the budget include:

• Adding a Probate Court Judge and three judicial court staff to address the Court’s increasing caseload.
• Developing the Thornapple Riverbend Greenspace ($1.3 million); replacing the waterwheel and activating a more pedestrian friendly design at Dwight Lydell Park ($500,000); and upgrading playscapes at Fallasburg Park ($300,000) and Dutton Park ($100,000).
• Replacing cell doors and locks in the medium and maximum-security housing areas at the Kent County Correctional Facility ($2 million).
• Transitioning Animal Control to the Sheriff’s Office from the Health Department ($0.85 million), making the first fiscal year of the animal shelter/animal control restructuring.

“I thank our department directors, elected officials, judiciary, and staff for developing a budget that balances funding for our mandated services while enhancing services with our remaining and limited resources,” said Stek.

Additional budget information:               

• Staff were added in a few critical areas, bringing the number of full-time equivalent positions to 1,892.
• The County’s largest revenue source is property tax collections ($173.6 million).
• The County retained its Triple-AAA-credit rating from Standard & Poor’s and Moody Investor Services for the 24^th consecutive year.

The Fiscal Year 2023 budget does not include funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The Board of Commissioners will adopt a sperate spending plan for this funding on Dec. 1 or 15.

Click here to review the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

(Kent County News Release - Nov. 17,2022)