What does a YES vote on Kent County mean?

Kent County would levy 0.98 mill from 2026 through 2045 for its correction and detention facilities, renewing the current millage and adding 0.2468 mill, raising about $37,326,699.00 the first year.

What does a NO vote on Kent County mean?

Kent County's corrections millage would not be renewed and increased, and the current millage would still expire after the 2029 levy.

It is a renewal of the existing corrections millage plus an increase of 0.2468 mill, for a total of 0.98 mill from 2026 through 2045.

Why vote now if the current millage runs through 2029?

The ballot replaces the current millage starting with the 2026 levy so the higher rate can begin now. If it fails, the existing millage continues through the 2029 levy.

Will it pay for more jail beds or immigration detention?

The sheriff says the millage would not add beds or staffing, and the sheriff's office told WOOD TV the money would not support ICE or federal inmate housing.

How many votes does Kent County need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Kent County?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Kent County — Millage Renewal and Increase: Corrections and Detention Facilities

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026

What it does: Shall Kent County levy 0.98 mill ($0.98 per $1,000 of taxable value) on the taxable value of all real and personal property subject to taxation for the period 2026 through 2045 inclusive to expand, remodel, equip, operate, maintain, and defray debt service for Kent County Correction and Detention Facilities? This millage is a renewal of the previously authorized millage which expires following the 2029 levy as well as an authorization to increase the existing millage by 0.2468 mill ($0.2468 per $1,000 of taxable value). The amount raised by the proposed levy in the first calendar year is estimated at $37,326,699.00. To the extent permitted by law, a portion of the revenues from this millage will be captured by local authorities for authorized purposes. The total amount of captured tax increment revenues from such millage in the first calendar year of the levy is estimated at $1,497,204.07. The authorities in Kent County capturing a portion of the revenues from this levy include the following: the Downtown Development Authorities for the Cities of Cedar Springs, Grandville, Lowell, Rockford, Walker, the Charter Township of Cascade, and the Townships of Bowne, Sparta, and Tyrone; the Brownfield Redevelopment Authorities of Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Rockford, Walker, and Wyoming; and the Monroe North Tax increment Financing Authority of the City of Grand Rapids, Local Development Financing Authority of the City of Grand Rapids, and the Corridor Improvement Authority of the City of Grand Rapids.
A YES vote means: Kent County would levy 0.98 mill from 2026 through 2045 for its correction and detention facilities, renewing the current millage and adding 0.2468 mill, raising about $37,326,699.00 the first year.
A NO vote means: Kent County's corrections millage would not be renewed and increased, and the current millage would still expire after the 2029 levy.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Kent County has a dedicated property tax (millage) for its correctional facility (the county jail) and juvenile detention center. Voters first approved it in 1990 and renewed it in 2008.
Voters approved 0.84 mill, but state Headlee Amendment rollbacks have reduced the rate the county may levy to 0.7332 mill in 2026. The current millage expires after the 2029 levy.
According to the Grand Rapids Chamber's summary of county figures, the millage covers about 44% of corrections costs; the rest comes from the county's General Fund.

If it passes

The county could levy 0.98 mill ($0.98 per $1,000 of taxable value) each year from 2026 through 2045. That renews the existing millage and increases it by 0.2468 mill.
The ballot estimates the first-year levy would raise $37,326,699. About $1,497,204 of that would be captured by local downtown development, brownfield and similar authorities listed on the ballot.
The money would go to expanding, remodeling, equipping, operating and maintaining the county's correction and detention facilities and paying related debt. The sheriff says it would fund medical and mental-health services, centralized booking and work on the jail's aging 1972 wing, and would not add beds or staff.
If it fails, the current millage still runs through the 2029 levy. The jail would keep operating, because the sheriff is required by law to run it, but the sheriff says more of the cost would fall on the county's General Fund.

Example

At 0.98 mill, a property with $100,000 of taxable value (not market value) would pay $98 a year, compared with $73.32 a year at the current 0.7332 mill: an increase of $24.68. Each $1,000 of taxable value costs $0.98 a year. (source)

Who would notice

All owners of taxable property in Kent County, and people held in or working at the Kent County Correctional Facility and Juvenile Detention Center.

How it got here

The Kent County Board of Commissioners approved the ballot language 11–5 at a special meeting on August 4, 2026. The Grand Rapids Chamber reported the vote split along party lines, 11 Republicans in favor and 5 Democrats opposed.

Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young had asked for 1.2 mills; commissioners set the rate at 0.98 mill.

What each side says

Supporters

The millage sustains existing jail programs and infrastructure, such as medical and psychological services and centralized booking, and without stable dedicated funding those costs would increasingly burden the county's General Fund and other services. · Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young
The 0.98 mill rate would cover modernizing the aging jail and keep pace with required operating costs, and the ballot language was set in a transparent process. · Commissioner Ben Greene, committee chair

Opponents

The county has mismanaged existing taxpayer funds, and asking for more money during a rising cost of living is unfair; the campaign also objects that the jail honors federal immigration detainers and holds a disproportionate share of Black residents. · Vote No On Detention campaign led by Urban Core Collective's Power Fund (as summarized by GRIID)
The board had not done all of its due diligence before setting the rate, and every dollar the county spends comes out of someone's pocket. Some public commenters called the process rushed. · Commissioner Kris Pachla and public commenters at the August 4 meeting

In the news

Kent County commissioners OK ballot language for corrections millage · WOOD TV8 (via Yahoo News), 2026-08-04
Kent County sheriff seeks November millage renewal · Spectrum News, 2026-09-01

Written by SpectrumVote from 5 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Kent County mean?: Kent County would levy 0.98 mill from 2026 through 2045 for its correction and detention facilities, renewing the current millage and adding 0.2468 mill, raising about $37,326,699.00 the first year.
What does a NO vote on Kent County mean?: Kent County's corrections millage would not be renewed and increased, and the current millage would still expire after the 2029 levy.
Is this a new tax?: It is a renewal of the existing corrections millage plus an increase of 0.2468 mill, for a total of 0.98 mill from 2026 through 2045.
Why vote now if the current millage runs through 2029?: The ballot replaces the current millage starting with the 2026 levy so the higher rate can begin now. If it fails, the existing millage continues through the 2029 levy.
Will it pay for more jail beds or immigration detention?: The sheriff says the millage would not add beds or staffing, and the sheriff's office told WOOD TV the money would not support ICE or federal inmate housing.
How many votes does Kent County need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Kent County?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Kent County ballot.

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