HOLLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP
353 North 120th Avenue, Holland, MI 49424
Phone: (616) 396-2345
2024 BICYCLE PATH SYSTEM MILLAGE PROPOSITION
FACT SHEET
March 2024
When is the election date for this proposition?
The bicycle path system millage proposition will be placed before the township electors at the May 7, 2024 regular election.
What is the millage proposition?
An extra voted property tax rate of up to 0.55 mill for a period of 4 years, beginning in the calendar year 2025 and ending December 31, 2028. The proposed 0.55 request is a 0.10 mill increase from the previous 0.45 mill tax rate approved by voters in August 2016. The millage will provide funds to continue planning, construction, right-of-way acquisition, improvements, maintenance and operation of the bike path system in Holland Charter Township. If approved, the 0.55 mill will result in an estimated amount of revenue that will be collected in the first year that the millage is authorized and levied of approximately $1,000,772.
What facilities and services are provided from this millage levy?
This millage currently provides township funding for constructing additional bike paths and sidewalks as well as repair, improvement and maintenance of existing bike paths and sidewalks.
• The current bike path system includes 70 miles of hard surface pathways and sidewalks for use by bicyclists and pedestrians. A map of this system can be seen at the Township office (address listed above) and online at the Township’s website (Bike Path Map).
• Ongoing maintenance includes sweeping, shoulder mowing and snow plowing. Other maintenance activities include pavement striping, signage, railings, patching, resurfacing and replacement.
• The Township path system interconnects with neighboring path and trail systems in Park and Zeeland Townships and Holland and Zeeland cities to provide regional pedestrian and biking recreational and transportation services.
• The bike path system provides a non-motorized pathway for transportation and multiple recreational uses. In most locations, the system provides users the safety of a buffer space between the motorized traffic on the roads and the adjacent bike paths.
When did Holland Township implement a bike path system?
The bike path system was initiated in 1981 with the approval of an extra voted millage dedicated for this purpose. Since 1981, over 70 miles of bike paths have been constructed, operated and maintained. The township has expended an average of $750,880 annually for construction and maintenance of this system during the last 4 years, from 2020 through 2023. The bike path tax levy was last approved in 2016 to an authorized tax levy of 0.45 mill. The millage actually levied by the township since the last approval has been in the range of 0.38 mill to 0.44 mill. The 2024 millage request is for 0.55 mill.
What is the cost of this service to the typical homeowner in Holland Township?
Approval of the extra voted millage for bike path system construction, improvement and maintenance services at the requested rate of 0.55 mill would cost the owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 about $55.00 a year or $4.58 a month.