About Kent County, Michigan
County Profile & Overview
With a healthy economy, low taxes, affordable housing, and Midwestern hospitality, Kent County offers the best in both business and family location. Located in Western Michigan, Kent County is the fourth largest population center in Michigan. Covering 864 square miles, the County is home to 574,355 people. The County seat, Grand Rapids, has a population of 187,000 and is 150 miles west of Detroit; 180 miles northeast of Chicago; and 30 miles from Lake Michigan.
The greater Grand Rapids area forms the urban center of the County. Grand Rapids is known for being the home of the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. The area was recently named number 3 in the fun and recreation category of the Places Rated Almanac, and the area ranks in the top 25 out of 315 metropolitan communities in Industry Week’s World Class Community annual survey.
A Growing Community
In terms of population, Kent County is the fourth largest county in the State of Michigan, and growing. According to the 2000 Census, Kent County has grown by 14.7 percent over the last 10 years to its current population of 574,355. The growth for the State of Michigan over the same period was 6.9 percent. Current projections indicate that the County’s population will grow to an estimated 607,300 in 2010.
A Healthy Economy
The County’s low unemployment rate is an indicator of a strong economy and business environment. Kent County has a rich history of industry, including agriculture, furniture crafting, and automobile manufacturing. Located just a few hours from Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and Toledo, the County is within a day’s drive of half the country’s population, half its manufacturing base and nearly half its retail sales. Some of the major employers in Kent County are Steelcase Incorporated, General Motors Corporation, Amway Corporation, and Bissell Incorporated.
High Quality of Life
Kent County offers a thriving arts community and a diverse range of entertainment options for every season. The County has over 50 parks, offering activities such as golfing, swimming, biking, roller blading, walking, cross country skiing, fishing, boating, camping, and a variety of playing fields. The award-winning 12,000 seat Van Andel Arena, located in Grand Rapids, is home to the Griffins hockey team and the Rampage arena football team, as well as major concerts and sporting events. Several academic institutions make their home in Kent County, including Aquinas College, Calvin College, Cornerstone University, Davenport University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, ITT Technical Institute, Kendall College of Art and Design, and Western Michigan University.
Population & Income Statistics
- Kent County has grown by 14.7 percent over the last 10 years to its current population of 574,355. The growth for the State of Michigan over the same period was 6.9 percent. Current projections show that the County’s population will grow to an estimated 607,300 in 2010.
- The median age of Kent County residents is 32.3 years; 29 percent of the population is under the age of 18, and 9 percent are age 65 and older.
- Kent County is home to an ever-diversifying population. While approximately 84 percent of the population is white, the population for many minority groups, including black, Hispanic, and Asian, is growing.
- Among people who are at least five years old living in Kent County, 9 percent speak a language other than English at home. Of these, 59 percent speak Spanish.
- The median gross income of households in Kent County is $47,303.
Employment Statistics
- The County’s unemployment rate continues to stay low while the number of individuals in the labor force increases. The low unemployment rate is an indicator of a strong economy and business environment. The County’s unemployment rate has been below the state and national average since before 1990.
- Eighty-seven percent of Kent County workers drove to work alone in 2000, 8 percent took public transportation, and 2 percent used other means. The remaining 2 percent worked at home. For those who commuted, it took them an average of 21 minutes to get to work.
Housing Statistics
- In 2000, Kent County had a total of 224,000 housing units, 5.8 percent of which are vacant. Of the total housing units, 72 percent were in single-unit structures, 24 percent were in multiunit structures, and 4 percent were mobile homes. Twenty percent of the housing units were built since 1990.
- Of the 211,000 occupied housing units in Kent County, 74 percent are owner occupied and 26 percent are renter occupied.
- The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners is $946, for non-mortgaged owners $273, and for renters $590. Twenty-three percent of owners with mortgages and 34 percent of renters in Kent County spent 30 percent or more of income on housing.
Education Statistics
- In 2000, 87 percent of people 25 years and over had at least graduated from high school. Twenty-seven percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Among people 16 to 19 years old, 19 percent were dropouts; they were not in school and had not graduated from high school
- The total school enrollment in Kent County was 150,000 in 2000. Pre-primary school enrollment was 22,000 and elementary or high school enrollment was 101,000 children. College enrollment was 27,000.
Kent County Governmental Organization
Kent County Board of Commissioners
The chief legislative and policy-making body of Kent County
Government is the 19-member Board of Commissioners.
Commissioners are elected to 2-year terms from districts that are roughly equal in population.
Regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners are open to the public and are held in the Board of Commissioners’ Room on the third floor of the County Administration Building. Items that appear on the Board of Commissioners’ agenda are usually first considered by one of two standing committees, the Finance & Physical Resources Committee and the Legislative and Human Resources Committee. Membership of the standing committees is composed of Commissioners, who are appointed by the Board Chair at the beginning of each new year.
The Board welcomes the public to express their ideas or concerns about issues affecting Kent County Government during meetings of the Board or its Standing Committees. A citizen may speak by approaching the podium and being recognized by the Board Chair during the “Public Comment” item on the meeting agenda.
Other Elected Officials
The following officials are elected to four-year terms in the general presidential election.
The County Clerk manages County elections, serves as the Register of Deeds, manages vital County records, and serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
The County Treasurer serves as the custodian of all County funds and is responsible for receipting, recording, and investing all money deposited in the County.
The Drain Commissioner administers the location, construction, and maintenance of drains and lake levels in the County.
The Prosecuting Attorney appears on behalf of the State or the County in proceedings brought before the Circuit Court, District Court, and Probate Court. The Prosecuting Attorney shares jurisdiction with the Michigan Attorney General for any crime committed in Kent County, but is independent of that state office.
The Sheriff oversees the provision of law enforcement and corrections programs and services to the community as mandated by Statute or dictated by the Board of Commissioners and the citizens of the County.
The voters of Kent County also elect Circuit, District, and Probate Court Judges.
Kent County Organizational Structure
Click Here to View Organizational Chart
The Budget Process
Introduction
The Kent County Budget is a plan that annually directs the provision of County services and facilities. The annual budget represents the Kent County Board of Commissioners’ commitment to provide quality services to its residents in a cost-effective and efficient manner within the boundaries of available resources. State statutes require that the annual budget be balanced with revenues/resources equaling or exceeding estimated expenditures. With the exception of a few funds, which account for programs funded on the State or another funding source’s fiscal year, Kent County budgets on a calendar year basis. Adoption of the budget in September ensures that appropriations are in place for those departments budgeted on the State’s fiscal year (September 30 year-end), as well as the County’s calendar year.
Click Here to view the 2004 Budget Calendar.
Budget Preparation
Kent County involves a number of staff from throughout the organization to develop its budget. The Administrator/Controller annually appoints individuals from both administrative and nonadministrative departments to participate in budget review teams: Each committee has an objective set of criteria and evaluation process. Recommendations from these committees are reviewed with the Administrator/Controller and the appropriate standing committee of the Board prior to being included in the recommended budget presentation. The Capital Improvement Program Review Committee (CIPRC) reviews all requests for capital projects valued at $25,000 and over. The Personnel Review Committee (PRC) reviews all new staffing requests. There is also an Operating Budget Review Team (OBRT), consisting of individuals from the Administrator’s Office and Fiscal Services Department which reviews all operating budget requests, and prepares the recommended budget in consultation with the Administrator/Controller.
During the month of February, the budget staff begins to brief the County Administrator/Controller and the Finance and Physical Resources Committee of the Board of Commissioners on the financial outlook for the upcoming fiscal year. Financial forecast assumptions are updated, analyzed, and discussed and their impact upon the upcoming budget is reviewed. It is also during this month that the PRC issues its call letter for new positions to be requested as part of the budget process, if appropriate. The PRC process was not conducted for the 2004 budget due to a moratorium on new hires.
In March, the Finance and Physical Resources Committee, with assistance from the Administrator/Controller, determines a preliminary target for the total County Budget as well as any special concerns that should be emphasized in the preparation of the next budget, for example, the moratorium on new positions instituted for the 2004 process. The Administrator’s Office uses these decisions to develop the budget guidelines for the County departments. Throughout March, April and the first week of May, department directors prepare capital, personnel and operating budget requests based on these guidelines and an analysis of department needs and submit the requests to the Administrator’s Office. The PRC and CIPRC complete their review process first, and forward their results to the OBRT.
In June, the OBRT begins meetings to review departmental operating budget requests. Additional information is requested, and if necessary, department directors meet with the OBRT. During the 2004 process, departments were instructed to reduce their requests to revised target levels. Throughout the summer, the Administrator/Controller provides regular briefings to the Finance and Physical Resources Committee on the budget development process. Fiscal Services staff, in conjunction with the OBRT and in consultation with the Administrator/Controller, compiles a proposed budget which is formally presented to the Finance and Physical Resources Committee in August.
In August, the Finance and Physical Resources Committee decides upon a specific level of total funding and the proposed level of property tax levy to support that budget, and recommends to the Board of Commissioners the millage rate for the coming year. The Board of Commissioners sets a public hearing date under the provisions of the Truth and Taxation and Uniform Budget laws of the State of Michigan.
Public Hearing
The public hearing, typically set for the Board of Commissioners’ first meeting in September, provides an opportunity for citizens to voice their opinion as to the appropriateness of the proposed budget and millage levy. A notice of the hearing is published not less than two weeks before it occurs in a newspaper of general circulation in the County.
Approval of the Budget
The Board of Commissioners, based on the input from the public hearing, instructs the Administrator’s Office to make any appropriate amendments to the proposed budget. The Board of Commissioners then approves the budget at its second meeting in September.
After the final approval of the budget by the Board of Commissioners, only limited budget changes can be made. A department may transfer its allocated funds internally from one account to another only with administrative approval. The one exception to this policy is that funds in Salary Accounts may not be transferred to other operating accounts within the department’s budget until the eleventh month of the budget. Funds cannot be moved from one department to another without formal approval by resolution of the Board of Commissioners upon recommendation of the Administrator’s Office. Requests for additional appropriations for new programs or staffing during the budget year require appropriate recommendation from the Administrator/Controller and approval by the Board of Commissioners.
