Board of Commissioners | February 17, 2026

The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners held a meeting on February 17, 2026, where key procurement and budget-related topics were discussed. The board received an update on a potential early childhood development millage proposing up to 0.5 mills for 10 years to support child care worker wages, family subsidies, and provider sustainability, with an estimated annual revenue of about $5 million. They also reviewed a housing corridor study identifying opportunities for compact, mixed-income housing development to meet the county's need for approximately 7,500 new housing units by 2030, emphasizing leveraging existing infrastructure and local zoning cooperation. Additionally, the board authorized the county administrator to approve change orders up to $150,000 per occurrence for the Landing Place project and approved entering into a memorandum of understanding with Western Michigan University regarding the Asylum Lake Preserve. Discussions included oversight of ARPA fund allocations, concerns about unspent balances nearing expiration, and the importance of ensuring funds are used according to original grant purposes. The board also deliberated on meeting scheduling and committee structures to improve efficiency and community engagement.