Politics
Grand Rapids 2026 Millage Rate Ordinance Sets Operating Levy at 10.75 Mills
Grand Rapids property owners will calculate 2026 tax bills using the new millage rate adopted June 30, which sits below rates applied in Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor under the same state assessment rules.
How we reported this
The Grand Rapids City Commission passed the 2026 fiscal year budget ordinance on June 30, fixing the general operating millage at 10.75 mills on all taxable property inside city boundaries. The change applies to roughly 78,000 parcels listed on the city assessor’s roll for the July 1 through June 30 budget period.
State law requires every Michigan municipality to adopt its levy by the last day of June. Grand Rapids officials completed the vote after receiving final taxable-value figures from the Kent County equalization office on June 20. The ordinance replaces the 2025 rate of 11.00 mills and follows the same formula used by other cities subject to the Michigan General Property Tax Act.
How the rate stacks up against peer cities
Under the 2026 levy, a home assessed at the city median taxable value of $142,000 faces an operating tax of $1,526.50 before any special assessments. The Michigan Department of Treasury’s May 2026 equalization report lists Detroit’s comparable operating rate at 19.50 mills, Lansing at 14.80 mills and Ann Arbor at 13.20 mills. Grand Rapids therefore collects $0.75 less per $1,000 of taxable value than the average of those three jurisdictions.
The lower rate reduces the portion of the city budget funded directly by property taxes to $48.2 million, according to the adopted budget document. The remaining $112 million comes from state revenue sharing, fees and federal grants. Local advocates note that the difference appears on the December tax statement mailed by the Kent County treasurer.
Next steps for residents and the city
City finance staff will transmit the certified levy to the county by July 15. Property owners can expect their 2026 winter tax bills in early December. The ordinance also schedules a required public hearing on any proposed special assessments for street lighting and sidewalk repair before October 1.
Policy analysts say the 2026 figures will serve as the baseline for the 2027 budget cycle, which begins with departmental requests due in January. The city charter requires the commission to hold at least two work sessions on the next year’s numbers before the June 30 deadline.