Nov 5 Ballot: Oakland County Parks Millage
Oakland County, MI – Voters in Oakland County have a Parks Millage on the Nov. 5, 2024 ballot. Here is the ballot language:
The Oakland County Parks System includes 17 park locations with nearly 7,200 acres of public park and recreational lands, 80 miles of trails, campgrounds, dog parks, golf courses, aquatic recreation facilities, and nature education centers.
To continue to provide revenue to the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission, shall the current millage, which has been reduced by required rollback, be replaced, and increased to .65 mills for 20 years from 2024 to 2043, The .65 mills is equal to 65 cents per $1,000.00 of taxable value.
The millage, if approved and levied, shall generate approximately $52,191,139 in 2024. The purpose of the millage is to expand, improve, operate, maintain, and acquire parks, recreational facilities, open spaces, lakes, rivers, water areas, and trailways; to support nature education, recreational, and outdoor educational and health programming; to support partnerships for access to and awareness of recreational lands and facilities; to promote the conservation and restoration of high-quality natural and wildlife habitats; and to allow free general park admission to all county parks for residents.
Revenue from this millage shall be disbursed only to the County of Oakland to be used solely for the purpose of funding the Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission and shall be subject to oversight by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and to an independent audit.
Oakland County Parks shared information on the proposal on their website, sharing:
Great parks, trails and recreational activities are a big part of what makes Oakland County a special place to live and raise a family. Oakland County Parks has delivered great recreational experiences to the public for nearly 60 years thanks to the generous support of voters. On Nov. 5, voters will consider a millage request for Oakland County Parks (OCP) to:
- RENEW our parks and recreation facilities.
- ENHANCE and expand opportunities to regional walking and water trails, accessibility for people of all abilities, education and enrichment programs and partnerships with local communities to develop new and renewed parks close to our population centers.
- PRESERVE sensitive natural habitats, green space and wetlands.
If approved, free entry and enjoyment of Oakland County parks and dog parks (excluding pay to play attractions such as golf courses, waterpark, campground and off-road vehicle activities) will be made possible.
The ballot proposal asks for authorization to replace OCP’s current 0.35 millage set to expire in 2029 with a new 0.65 millage that would expire in 2043 and extend the millage cycle from 10 to 20 years. If approved, the net 0.30 increased rate will generate an additional $24 million annually. The impact of the net rate increase for the owner of a home with the county’s average residential taxable value would be $40 a year. To see how the funding would be invested county-wide, click here.
Governments typically finance large projects and purchasing through low-interest bonds paid back over a period of years. Due to the limited duration of Oakland County Parks’ current millage, we cannot utilize these tools and must pay for all major capital projects and purchases with cash on hand.
Extending the millage’s duration to 20 years will open the door for low-interest financing to help fund these projects.
This will allow us to continue to build on the partnerships that upgraded playground facilities at Green Acres Park in Hazel Park and Mack-Rowe Park in Royal Oak Township. At Pontiac Oaks County Park, we were also able to complete a new fishing pier.
Low-interest financing will help fund long-delayed projects as we aim to invest $100 million in major capital improvements to revitalize our parks, trails, recreational attractions and the Oakland County Farmers Market.
It will also offer possibilities to take advantage of opportunities to purchase property well-suited for recreation and conservation purposes, providing preservation and protection of sensitive natural habitats, wetlands, and green spaces.
To learn more about the OCP ballot proposal, click here. Please share this information with your family and friends, and tag us on Facebook or on Instagram.
Several communities have proposals on the ballot. For the full list and more election information visit the Oakland County Clerk’s website. Also visit the Oakland County Times Election Page for candidate interviews and more info.
