With an unprecedented rise in property values, Ottawa County residents are bracing for a substantial increase in their property taxes in 2025. The county general fund collects 2.0 mills of inside property tax within Ottawa County. The increase in property values would have amounted to an increase of approximately $1.5 million in revenue for the general fund. The county commissioners have asked the Ottawa County Budget Commission to only collect 1.5 mills, which will keep the collected property tax near the same amount that was collected in 2024.
County Commissioners Donald Douglas, Mark Coppeler and Mark Stahl, along with the Budget Commission comprised of Prosecutor James VanEerten, Auditor Jennifer Widmer and Treasurer Anthony Hatmaker, have had multiple discussions concerning the dramatic rise in property values and the subsequent increase in property taxes. While the county is only a small portion of the inside millage, it was mutually agreed that a reduction is the proper action to take for the 2025 tax year to help alleviate some of the financial burden for Ottawa County residents. This decision is unprecedented, and the county’s collection of inside mills will be reassessed in the upcoming years.
It should be noted that any other tax liabilities such as school levies, other political subdivision levies, ditch assessments, etc. are not subject to county commissioner oversight and will still be collected and distributed to the appropriate taxing authority…