Welcome to the electronic newsletter from
Grand Haven Charter Township!
Stay informed on what is happening in the township. This newsletter will deliver up-to-date information including upcoming meetings, development news, Township services and more!
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The Township′s 2024 Fiscal Year (FY2024) budget – which begins on January 1st – is historically the LARGEST budget at just over $38.54 million because of the number of major capital construction projects.
Further, although expenditures exceed revenues, the FY2024 budget is “balanced” inasmuch as the difference is taken from the existing fund balances, cash reserves and/or bond revenues for these planned capital improvement projects. Moreover, the budget is balanced since the fund balances or cash reserves will remain positive in each of the funds – totaling about $13.27 million at the end of FY2024.
It is important to remember that although GHT adopts a single budget resolution each year, the total budget is actually sixteen (16) separate budgets — one for each of the Township′s Funds. With few exceptions, monies from one Fund cannot be transferred to other Funds, unless there is a specific service received.
Some of the highlights from the budget include the following:
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$11.04 million to construct a new Fire/Rescue station near Ferris Street and 168th Avenue. (About $695k was already spent in 2023 on engineering costs, architectural fees, and equipment purchases with long lead times.)
- $6.25 million to construct a third water transmission main from the North Ottawa Water System (NOWS) treatment plant into the Township.
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$3.25 million to extend municipal water from the west-side of US-31 at Buchanan Street to the east-side (i.e., bore & jack the railroad and highway to allow for the future extension of water along the highway and Buchanan Street).
- $1.71 million will be spent to support the operations of the Fire/Rescue Department, which will respond to an estimated 1,500 emergency runs during 2024.
- $636k will be spent to supplement the work of the Ottawa County Sheriff′s Department, paying for a portion of five (5) deputies that work exclusively within the Township.
- $1.51 million for transportation activities, including:
- $569k for Harbor Transit on-demand bus service.
- $900k to supplement the work of the Road Commission and re-surface certain subdivision streets.
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$36k for three dust control treatments on gravel roads. (Note: Because State of Michigan Act 51 monies (i.e., gas and weight taxes) provided are insufficient for the Ottawa County Road Commission to maintain the county roads, the Township supplements the Road Commission’s maintenance activities. Specifically, all subdivision paving, all dust control and some gravel road maintenance activities have been allotted to the Township.)
- $1.39 million for maintenance of the 40 miles of pathways, sidewalks, and boardwalks, including resurfacing the Lakeshore Drive pathway from Buchanan Street to the Little Pigeon boardwalk.
- $210k will be spent on four elections — the Presidential Primary election, the May school election, the August Primary election, and the November General election.
- $679k will be allocated to maintain the Township parks.
- $245k to maintain and operate the Township′s two cemeteries.
- $132k for street lighting.
- $109k for storm drain maintenance.
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$1.39 million to operate the sanitary sewer system (i.e., about 22 miles of sewer mains and 11 lift stations), including treating an estimated 121 million gallons of sewage and the replacement of about 1,540′ of sewer force main on Ferris Street that have been corroded by sewer gas (i.e., hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane).
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$2.63 million to operate the water distribution system (i.e., about 95 miles of water mains, two 500,000-gallon water tanks and two metering stations), including $861k to purchase 781 million gallons of water.
- $424k for the operation and maintenance of the Township′s Information Technology (IT) system.
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$1.44 million for debt payments on outstanding bonds. (Bonds are substantially similar to mortgage payments that residents pay on their homes — paying for large infrastructure projects over time at fixed, tax-free interest rates.)
If you have any questions regarding the FY2024 budget or the fiscal health of the Township, please email Superintendent Cargo at bcargo@ght.org.
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2024 – EARLY VOTING AT THE TOWNSHIP
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The Ottawa County Clerk requested to use the Township Board room as one of four early voting sites in Ottawa County during 2024. The Township facility will be as an early voting site covering six (6) Ottawa County municipalities including:
- Grand Haven Charter Township
- Grand Haven City
- Ferrysburg City
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Spring Lake Township (which includes Spring Lake Village)
- Crockery Township
- Robinson Township
All early voting sites will be open for the nine (9) consecutive days, beginning on the second Saturday before each statewide or federal election and ending on the Sunday before a statewide federal election. Each site must be open for at least eight (8) hours each day.
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The North Ottawa Recreation Area (NORA) Board approved $10,154.15 for the purchase of soccer goals at Schmidt Heritage Park at their October Board meeting. |
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Grand Haven Charter Township will, again, participate in the Salvation Army Angel Tree Toy Drive.
The Township will display Angel Tree Tags (with gift requests) on a Christmas tree in the lobby of the Administrative Building located at 13300 168th Avenue.
The Township office is open during normal office hours.
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Township Questions?
If you have specific questions about Township operations, please send an email to bcargo@ght.org .
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