Parks and Rec Commission Discusses Communication for Millage to Be Decided at November’s Election

The East Lansing Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission previewed information being shared with voters who will decide if the Parks, Recreation and Arts Department receives its own line of funding in the form of a dedicated property tax millage. 

If voters approve the proposal, the property tax millage levied by the city on residents would increase from about 13 mills to 15. The proposal has drawn controversy because when voters agreed to a city income tax in 2018, it came with a reduction in the maximum amount of mills the city can tax–lowering the cap from about 18 mills to 13. The city is now asking for two of those mills back. 

The city believes the millage will raise nearly $3 million annually for the parks department if it is passed. The millage would replace the general fund’s entire contribution to the department and insulate it from cuts the city may need to make as it struggles with significant financial challenges.

To spread information about the millage, the city has created a page on its website, an article in its Connect magazine and a postcard that will be mailed to 14,000 East Lansing households with registered voters.

Commissioners made several suggestions about the information being shared with voters.

Joshua Ramirez-Roberts, who is also a candidate for East Lansing City Council, suggested that in addition to identifying Lansing as a city with a parks millage, Meridian Township is included as an example.

Councilmember Mark Meadows, who serves as liaison to the commission, surprised some commissioners when he told them that if the income tax is not renewed before it expires in 2030, the parks millage (if enacted by the voters) will also expire.

If this happens, Meadows confirmed to ELi in a text message, “the undesignated property tax would go back to its Headlee limit of 17.5 mills.”

The Headlee Amendment is Michigan law restricting local governments from increasing property tax revenues beyond the rate of inflation. In the scenario that the income tax and parks millage cease, City Council would be empowered to raise the city’s property tax level to 17.5 mills, according to Meadows.

Commissioners suggested this scenario be added as a frequently asked question on the city’s webpage. 

In addition to the millage, commissioners received updates on ongoing improvement efforts and performance of summer programming.

Interim Parks, Recreation and Arts Director Justin Drwencke said the basketball court at Tamarisk Park was completed and a contract has been awarded to construct noise reduction infrastructure around the pickleball courts in Patriarche Park.

The department’s summer programming saw unprecedented engagement, Drwencke said. 

2,400 family members came to watch their children perform in the city’s drama camp and more than 200 children participated in  camps or childcare provided by the city. 

The East Lansing Aquatic Center experienced the largest number of monthly visitors since its establishment in 2001 with 19,300 guests in July.

Correction 8/22: This story was corrected to state that a basketball court was recently completed at Tamarisk Park, not Emerson.