Board of Commissioners Meeting | April 21, 2026

The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners held a meeting on April 21, 2026, with significant focus on the proposed child care early learning millage to be placed on the August 4 ballot. The millage aims to fund affordable, high-quality child care services for children ages 0 to 5 and support child care providers with a proposed levy of 0.5 mills over 10 years, expected to raise approximately $6.4 million annually. The board heard extensive public testimony both in support of and opposition to the millage, highlighting issues such as the high cost of child care, workforce shortages, and the tax burden on residents. Commissioners discussed the millage term length, funding priorities, and the importance of balancing community needs with taxpayer concerns. The resolution for the millage was introduced for first reading, with further discussion and a final vote scheduled for the next meeting. Additionally, the board reviewed accounts payable claims totaling nearly $6 million, discussed capital improvement projects including a $627,000 jail management system upgrade, and addressed ongoing jail water quality issues with plans for filtration system installation and bottled water distribution. Other agenda items included employee recognitions, updates on community partnerships, and a report on the county clerk's office operations. The meeting concluded with a motion to table a conflict of interest form revision until May 19, 2026, and plans for future budget training sessions for commissioners.