Official Ballot Language
For the purpose of operating, maintaining and improving the Isabella County Parks and Recreation Commission parks and programs as provided by PA 261 of 1965, shall the previously voted increase on the Constitutional limitation upon the total amount of taxes which may be assessed in one (1) year upon all property within the County of Isabella, Michigan, be continued and renewed at up to 0.3500 of one (1) mill, ($0.35 per $1,000 of Taxable Value), for a period of six (6) years, 2024 – 2029, inclusive. If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $902,316 for the Isabella County Parks and Recreation Commission parks and programs in the first calendar year of the levy, based upon taxable value. In accordance with State law, a small portion of the millage may also be disbursed to the Downtown Development Authorities of the City of Mt. Pleasant and Union Township; the Tax Increment Finance Authority of the City of Mt. Pleasant; and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority of the City of Mt. Pleasant.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Parks Fund millage levies up to .35 mills ($0.35 per $1,000 of Taxable Value). This has been the rate since the original millage passed in 2012 and will be the rate proposed for renewal on the upcoming ballot.
A property owner with a home valued at $100,000 will pay an estimated $17.50 in taxes toward this millage in a year.
| Market Value of Your Home | Estimated Annual Investment to Support Parks |
| $50,000 | $8.75 |
| $75,000 | $13.12 |
| $100,000 | $17.50 |
| $150,000 | $26.25 |
| $200,000 | $35.00 |
The 2024 Parks Fund ballot proposal is a renewal. This millage was first approved in 2012 and renewed in 2018. This is not a new tax and will not be an increase.
- Trail Development and Maintenance
- Campground Development, Improvements and Maintenance
- Equipment Maintenance and Upgrades
- Boat Launch and Water Access Improvements and Maintenance
- Bathhouse Improvements and Maintenance
- Beach Improvements and Maintenance
- Pere Marquette Rail Trail Improvements and Maintenance
- Cross-Country Ski Trail Grooming
- County Parks Staff & Operations
- Implementation of ADA Guidelines
- Invasive Species Removal
- Natural Resource Protection
- Wildlife Habitat Preservation
- Conservation Projects
- Expanded Programs/Events
- Chippewa River Stewardship
- Capital Improvement Projects
- Matching Funds for Grant Opportunities
Isabella County Parks and Recreation is not a part of the Isabella County General Fund and receives its funding through:
- Revenues from park user fees
- These fees include campsite and cabin reservations, pavilion rentals, vehicle daily and annual permits, watercraft daily and annual permits, and mooring slip fees. Sales of firewood, park merchandise, fixed assets and contracts with canoe liveries also generate income.
- Millage support
- Grant support
Millage and grant support keep park user fees competitive and affordable.
2023 FUNDING TOTALS
- The Parks Millage tax revenue for 2023 totaled $807,528
- The park fees and department-generated revenue for 2023 totaled $644,590
- Grant funds actually received in fiscal year 2023 totaled $58,500
- Grant funds awarded in 2023 totaled $378,100
The election is on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
(1) If a taxing unit submits a proposal on the question of authorizing the issuance of bonds, imposing a new millage, or increasing or renewing an existing millage, except an ad valorem special assessment millage for police or fire protection under 1951 PA 33, MCL 41.801 to 41.813, the ballot shall fully disclose each local unit of government to which the revenue from that millage will be disbursed. As used in this subsection:
(a) “Local unit of government” means a county, city, village, township, school district, intermediate school district, community college district, public library, or local authority created under state law.
(b) “Public library” means that term as defined in section 2 of the state aid to public libraries act, 1977 PA 89, MCL 397.552. (Emphasis added).
County legal council has advised to include the language regarding disbursement to tax capturing entities. However, there are two schools of thought on that issue with regard to these types of tax captures, and many Counties have decided not to include the disclosure of disbursements for tax captures (as opposed to a direct disbursement to other local governments, e.g., as statutorily required with a road millage).
The Michigan statute that authorizes special millages such as the Parks Millage requires that the ballot language identify each governmental entity to whom a portion of the millage revenue will be disbursed.
The Parks Millage Renewal ballot language identifies various public Authorities to whom a portion of the millage revenues may be disbursed.
These public Authorities derive their revenue by capturing the increased taxes on property within their districts that are over and above the taxes that were payable when their development plans were approved.
It is possible that a small portion of the Parks Millage Renewal revenues may be captured by these public Authorities, due to the increase in value of properties in their districts resulting from the development plans.