A Year in Review
by Jim Beelen
Although many of you may not have been aware, 2007 was a year when township
government came under attack more than anytime in recent history. Early in the year, House Bill 4780 was introduced in the Michigan Legislature. Although it never got out of committee, it generated a great deal of attention at many levels. HB 4780 proposed to move elections, tax collections, and assessing from townships to counties. All county costs related to taking on those new duties would be billed to the townships.
This legislation presumably was introduced to provide government reform. There was the suggestion that somehow implementation of HB 4780 would save the State money and help with it’s budget problems.
Those of us in township government were mystified as to how this would help the State at all. Many thought the ultimate goal was to eliminate townships, a concept that seemed to be supported by the leadership in both the House and Senate.
Eventually, through the efforts of many individuals and organizations across the State, the momentum behind HB 4780 began to wane. By the time the legislators became
embroiled in budget discussions, it seemed HB 4780 had been forgotten.
At the height of the crisis, a study was completed by Michigan State University, looking at the cost of moving assessing to the counties. It was found that having counties do the assessing would cost at least 10% more than it costs the townships. I appreciate
Ottawa County’s opposition to this legislation. It seems, that at least for the foreseeable future, the services that you expect locally will remain at the Township.
In spite of the challenges mentioned above and in spite of the ongoing reduction of State shared revenues, Allendale had another very good year. Financially, the General Fund ended the year in the black once again. Our expenditures increased by 4.02% over those in 2006. Our revenues also increased by 4.11% over those of 2006. Our General Fund fund balance was about $938,000, or a little over 44% of our annual
operating expenditures. That kind of fund balance will help assure our financialstability in the future.
The Township Board kept its commitment and again lowered the tax
administration fee. The fee was reduced from 3/4% to 1/2%, representing a $16,000 savings to tax payers. In 2007, we were once again able to drop the millage that is charged for the library building debt reduction, from 0.36
mills to .0327 mills. The decrease wasn’t large, but it still represented a
savings. Additionally, 2007 is the last year the library millage will be charged. The final payment on the building will be made in early 2008.
Once again, I am pleased to report that the Township general operating millage remained at 2.7422 mills, the same as it has been since 2000.
Allendale is fortunate in that the growth of our tax base has remained strong. We have
experience a significant decrease in number of single family homes and condominiums being built, like all communities have experienced. But, we are growing rapidly in the commercial area. Commercial establishments require little in the way of township services and pay
additional taxes in support of our local public schools. They also provide many services the residents of our community need and enjoy.
This year it is my pleasure to welcome the following new businesses to Allendale: Biggby Coffee, Jude’s Barber Shop, Contours Express, Angel Nails, Walgreens, Centennial Wireless, Soho Café, Campus Party Store, Jimmy Johns, Learn and Play House, and Snap Fitness. I also want to acknowledge Family Fare; They, of course, are not new to our community, but Family Fare chose to build a new proto type store in Allendale. We appreciate the larger store and new services, as well as being chosen as the location for their new style store. As before, I want to encourage our residents to patronize our local businesses. If we don’t support them, we will loose their services.
The Township staff remains very dedicated and committed to serve the residence of the
Township. In 2007, we had no changes in staffing. I appreciate and value our Township staff and the many years of experience and knowledge they bring to the work place each day. Several members of our staff have been given leadership positions within their professional organizations. That kind of recognition is evidence of the skills our staff possesses.
This report would not be complete without acknowledging the various boards that serve the Township. Our Township Board has done a great job, once again, in 2007. They take
seriously their elected responsibilities, thinking about, studying, and asking questions about the various items that come before them. The Board does not have a “strong committee” system where most of the issues are debated and deliberated in a closed committee environment. Our Board does it’s work during the public meeting held the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, and anyone can attend. We are also well served by the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals,
Construction Board of Appeals, the Downtown Development Authority Board, the Downtown Development Authority Citizens Council, the Library Committee, and the Parks and Recreation Committee. The names of the
individuals on those boards are listed elsewhere in this report. When
openings on these boards occur, an ad is placed in the Announcer inviting people to apply. I would like to encourage you to consider applying next time you see an opening that interests you. We are also served by the Historical Society Board, the Garden Club Board, the Fourth of July Committee, and the ABC Coalition Board. The work of all these boards is very
important to our community. These boards are made up of citizens and business people who recognize how important involvement in the community is. Please thank them for their work the next time you see them.
An important component of understanding how well we are serving you is receiving citizen feedback. In 2007, the Township Board authorized three surveys of the community. Two were sent to randomly selected registered voters and one was done on campus at GVSU. The
response was tremendous and the information received will be very helpful. We appreciate both the compliments and the constructive criticism. We can learn from both. During 2008, we will share some of what we learned and attempt to answer some questions received. Watch the Announcer for those reports.
Allendale Public School and Allendale Christian School are wonderful assets in our
community. The Township has had and continues to have a great working relationship with both schools. We have been privileged to assist them both in the development of new
buildings.
Grand Valley State University continues to be the best college in the Midwest. Their academic and athletic achievements are receiving national attention, which in turn brings attention to
Allendale. The Township meets regularly with GVSU representatives to make certain the lines of communication remain open and to discuss how we can continue to work together.
In 2007, the Township worked closely with the Allendale Area Chamber of Commerce to
develop common goals. By working together, we hope to make our community even more
inviting to potential businesses and industry.
There are several organizations in our community who provide services that are particularly important during these times of economic slowdown. I want to acknowledge Love INC, the Allendale Community Foundation, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, the Lakeshore Pregnancy Center, and the Family Life Center for all they do.
We are also blessed with many churches who not only actively support some of the above organizations, but who also help in many other ways.
Downtown Development Authority Report
Allendale Charter Township has had a Downtown Development Authority or DDA since 1986. The idea of a DDA was introduced to the Township by former Supervisor Roger Rycenga. The DDA has been a great tool allowing us to complete many projects that enhances the quality of life and promote economic development without raising taxes.
The DDA operates on tax dollars it “captures” from certain properties in the Township. The taxable value of each property in the DDA area was identified in 1986. The DDA is allowed to “capture” the increase in tax dollars after 1986. To illustrate that in a way easier to understand, let’s say a property in 1986 was paying $63.00 in taxes. In 2007 that same property paid $77.00 The difference between what was paid in 1986 and 2007 is what is “captured”, or $14.00 The property owner pays the same tax rate as all other property owners in the Township. The DDA is only allowed to capture township and county tax.
In 2007, the DDA funded several projects. Those projects include improvements in the park, the improvements at the corner of 68th Avenue and Lake Michigan Drive, landscaping and signage at 64th Avenue and Lake Michigan Drive, sidewalks along 60th Avenue north of Lake Michigan Drive and 56th Avenue south of Lake Michigan Drive, utilities and streetscape on the Henry Street extension between the new Family Fare and the Christian School, and the Christmas lights on the boulevard. In addition, the DDA makes an annual contribution to the General Fund to help with maintenance of the boulevard and is paying for property purchased adjacent to the park.
The DDA is run by a board made up of residents and business people from the DDA area. The DDA meets quarterly to select projects, approve budgets, receive reports on projects in
progress, and hear requests for funding. The members of the DDA board are listed elsewhere in this report. There are openings on the board. If you would be interested in serving, contact Township Clerk Candy Kraker for more information.
As always, if you have questions, whether it is about this report or anything else, please feel free to come see me in person, call me at 895-6295, or email me at jbeelen@altelco.net.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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