Finance and Infrastructure Committee 08/04/26

The Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance and Infrastructure Committee met on August 4, 2026, to discuss several key procurement and budget-related items. The committee approved multiple wage increases for various county employee unions, including a 4% raise for several groups such as the Prosecuting Attorney Association, Circuit Court employees, police labor councils, nurses, and parks department workers. Additionally, the board accepted a $127,000 grant budget amendment from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for legal guardian ad litem services. A significant capital improvement project was also addressed, with the committee recommending a resolution to pledge the county's full faith and credit for a $4.475 million bond issuance to fund drainage improvements in the Duncan Lake intercounty drain district, shared among Kent, Barry, and Allegan counties. Lastly, the committee approved an amendment to the capital improvement program policy to increase the annual deposit from property tax revenues from 0.2 to 0.3 mills, contingent on voter approval in the November 2026 election, which would increase funding for county capital projects by approximately $4 million annually.