Kalamazoo County Approves $353 Million Budget for 2027
Kalamazoo County commissioners approved a $353 million budget for 2027 that increases property tax rates to offset expiring federal pandemic relief funds.
The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners approved a $353 million budget for 2027 on Monday, scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027. The spending plan shifts the county away from expiring federal American Rescue Plan Act pandemic relief funds by increasing reliance on recurring local revenue. This includes a property tax millage rate of 7.8354 mills, which represents a 4.74% revenue increase of approximately $4.49 million, and new funding from a voter-approved childcare millage.
Despite the formal approval, officials described the budget as a living document subject to further changes. Vice chair John Taylor pledged to attempt to increase the approved 1% cost-of-living adjustment for employees to 2% to better address an inflation rate he cited at 3.7%.
Commissioners still need to determine if the new childcare tax will be collected on summer or winter tax bills. Vice chair pro tem Jeff Heppler noted that the budget requires ongoing work throughout the year.
