TRAVERSE CITY — Voters will decide on a new millage proposal for Grand Traverse County’s extensive trail system after commissioners adopted a resolution Wednesday to place the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Commissioners Ashlea Walter, Penny Morris, Lauren Flynn, Brian McAllister and board vice chair T.J. Andrews voted in favor of placing the request before county residents this fall, while board chair Scott Sieffert and Commissioner Rob Hentschel voted against the motion. Commissioners Darryl Nelson and Fern Spence were absent.
The proposed millage, if approved, aims to levy 0.3 mills per $1,000 of taxable value for a six-year period — beginning Dec. 1, 2026, through 2031 — that would provide a projected $2.6 million annually.
TART Trails CEO Julie Clark joined county commissioners to discuss the request, noting that possible funding would be used for trail construction, ongoing maintenance, administration and future land acquisitions.
“We are the nonprofit steward of over 100 miles of trails in the region,” Clark said Wednesday. “Our role, our mission, is to bring trails to life.”
The millage proposal has been an idea on the organization’s radar for decades, she said, noting that many of the current trails in existence were started by past county leaders.
Clark said the county is in a position to help facilitate regional coordination, including ensuring accountability, as well as leveraging local, state and federal funding to attract private investments.
“The millage connects directly with the county’s strategic plan goals around health, economic development and quality of life,” Clark said.
If approved, the program would be governed by the county board with guidance established through a Trails Advisory Council, including support of a trails millage coordinator, Clark said. She added that the nonprofit is prepared to work as the coordinator with county administration, if the millage is approved.
Hentschel and Sieffert offered explanations for their votes against the proposal, stating they didn’t feel all county residents should be responsible for paying a new tax toward trails that only a portion of the county’s population uses.
“The one thing I disagree with is the method of funding,” Hentschel said. “When we go to millages, you end up with 51% of the people wanting something and 100% paying for it. … For me personally, raising taxes is not the way to fund it.”
Sieffert agreed that many residents don’t use the trail system or live far away from a trail connection.
“I don’t think anybody in this room would deny the fact that our TART Trail system is a big draw for people who come and visit here,” Sieffert said. “Again, this would be an easy thing to do if we had — oh, I don’t know — a hotel tax.”
The original proposal stated a time period of 10 years, which some commissioners argued was too long for a first-time millage.
“It denies the opportunity for voters to provide accountability on whether it’s working,” Andrews said.
Walters accepted Andrews’ amendment to the motion, shortening the proposed term to six years, which County Administrator Nate Alger said was an anticipated part of Wednesday’s discussion.
Clark acknowledged that the original suggestion to shorten the proposal to a six-year term was previously discussed, but that it still typically takes a decade to establish a new trail and county commissioners would still govern the millage’s use.
“The accountability is super-important to us,” Clark said. “That’s why this is the board where all questions go to and all approvals start and stop.”
The county’s civil counsel, Matt Nordfjord, amended the resolution to reflect the six-year period and ensured both the resolution and ballot language reflected that change.
Walter added that the projected $2.6 million is “somewhat of a drop in the bucket,” but it’s money that would help leverage private funds, as well as state and federal grants that fill funding gaps for the regional trail system over time.
“This is just the first step and it’s up to the voters to decide whether we want to tax ourselves for this,” she added.
Following Wednesday’s approval, Clark spoke for the nonprofit to applaud the board’s decision to let voters decide on the millage in the upcoming election.
“We are truly grateful to our partners at Grand Traverse County,” she said in a statement published by the organization. “We are excited to bring this millage proposal to the voters of Grand Traverse County, who have made it clear, time and again, that they want more trails and safer ways to walk and bike to meet their recreation and transportation needs.”