MILLAGE RENEWAL
WHAT IS THE PARKS AND RECREATION MILLAGE?
Public Act 156 of 1917: “Operate a system of public recreation and playgrounds; Acquire, equip and maintain land, buildings or other recreational facilities;
Employ a superintendent of recreation and assistants; Vote and expend funds for the operation of such system”.
Funds cannot be used for the core educational program.
PROPOSED BALLOT LANGUAGE
Parks and Recreation Millage Proposal
Rockford Public Schools
Millage Renewal Proposal to Provide Funds to Operate a System of Public Recreation and Playgrounds
This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy public recreation millage previously approved by the electors that will expire with the 2023 levy.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of .9125 mill ($0.9125 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Rockford Public Schools, Kent County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 20 years, 2024 to 2043, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for operating a system of public recreation and playgrounds; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect for such recreation program if the millage is approved and levied in 2024 is approximately $2,356,733 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2023 tax levy)?
RENEWAL WOULD ALLOW FOR…
Ongoing revenues would continue to be used for basic operational expenses (custodians, maintenance, and utilities) of recreational facilities which allows after-school programs at all levels (Early Childhood and DK-12). This also would preserve school funding for classroom use.
CONTINUED REVENUES WOULD ALLOW FOR …
Reduction of athletic pay-to-participate fees by 50%
COMMUNITY SERVICES OPPORTUNITIES
Classes offered at No Charge, included but not limited to:
- Medicare Made Simple – 101 and 102
- Home Buyers Class
- Understanding the Basics of Home & Auto Insurance
- Understanding the Basics of Term & Whole Life Insurance
- Chronic Disease Self-Management
Classes offered for a Nominal Fee, included but not limited to:
- Retirement Income
- Youth Soccer
- Youth Basketball
- Pickleball
- Swim lessons & classes
USE OF FACILITIES
- Use of Elementary playgrounds after school
- Use of facilities for clubs and group meetings, included but not limited to:
- Boy & Girl Scouts
- Law enforcement training
- Firefighter training
- Special Olympics
- County professional development
- Access to pools
- Access for community recreational groups (Rockford Little League, Rocket Football, Youth Lacrosse)
SENIOR OFFERINGS
- Community Garden (tools/water/maintenance/mowing)
- Golden Age Pass
- Free Monthly Legal Assistance from attorney
- Annual Christmas Dinner
- Annual Summer Picnic
- Newsletter
- Book Club
ELECTION TIMELINE
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00
You can register at any time up to 8:00 pm on Election Day
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Application for absentee ballots will be available from your local township or city clerk until Monday, September 25, 2023.
Military and overseas voters Saturday, September 23, 2023.
After those dates, voters must appear in person.
Voting on November 7, 2023 will take place at the following polling locations:
| Township/City | Precinct # | Precinct Location |
| Algoma Township – 616.866.1583 | 1 & 2 | Algoma Baptist Church – Gymnasium, 10515 Grange Ave NE |
| 3 | Kent County Road Commission – North, 11723 White Creek Ave. | |
| Clerks Office – 616.866.1583 | 4 & 5 | The City Church, 3233 – 10 Mile Rd. |
| Cannon Township – 616.874.6966 | 1 & 2 | Bella Vista Church, 5100 Belding Rd |
| 3 & 4 | Cannon Township Center, 6878 Belding Road NE | |
| 5 & 6 | Crossroads Wesleyan Church, 8331 Myers Lake Ave |
| City of Rockford – 616.866.1537 | 1 & 2 | City of Rockford, City Hall, 7 Monroe St |
| Courtland Township – 616.866.0622 | 1 | Courtland Fire Station #2, 9535 Myers Lake Ave |
| 2 | Rockford Springs Community Church, 5815 – 14 Mile Rd | |
| 3 | Courtland Township Hall, 7450 – 14 Mile Rd |
| Grattan Township – 616.691.8450 | 1 | Grattan Township Hall, 12050 Old Belding Rd |
| 2 | Fire Station, 12134 Old Belding Rd |
| Oakfield Township – 616.754.5679 | 1 | Oakfield Township Hall, 10300 – 14 Mile Rd |
| Plainfield Township – 616.364.8466 | 1 | Belmont Baptist Church, 6446 Belmont Ave NE |
| 2 | Plainfield Christian Church, 7255 Pine Island Dr | |
| Clerks Office – 616.364.6588 | 6 | Magnify Church, 6727 Kuttshill Dr |
| 9 | Grace Fellowship Church, 735 Buth Ave | |
| 10 | Assumption BVM Catholic Church, 6390 Belmont Ave | |
| 11 | Blythfield Christian Reformed Church, 6350 Kuttshill Dr NE |
Should you have any questions regarding your assigned polling location, please contact your local township/city clerk.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: Please call the Rockford Public Schools Administration Office at 616.863.6555.
Informational webpage paid for by Rockford Public Schools, 350 N. Main Street, Rockford, MI 49341
