Community and Senior Center Proposal

UPDATE 8/19

Both proposals on the August 5 special election ballot were rejected by voters. Following the election, the Township Board convened on August 7 to determine possible next steps.

More information about next steps and a breakdown of the election results can be found in the blue Next Steps dropdown below.

Meridian Township is asking voters to consider two millages for a proposed Community and Senior Center that will appear on the August 5, 2025 special election ballot.

Key Points:
  • The proposed Community and Senior Center would be an approximately 40,000 square foot facility to be constructed between the Township’s Central Fire Station (No. 91) and the Okemos U.S. Post Office along Central Park Drive.
  • The proposed millages include a construction bond proposal (0.5576 mill) and an operating millage (0.3475 mill). If passed, the total millage rate increase would be 0.9051 mill.
  • The average taxable value of single-family detached homes in Meridian Township is $152,197. A home with this average value would pay $138 per year. The average value of condominiums is $91,599. A condominium with this average value would pay $83 per year. Instructions to calculate your home’s payment can be found on the FAQ below.
  • The current Meridian Senior Center is scheduled for demolition in 2027 as part of the Okemos Public Schools reconstruction project. This closure of the current Senior Center necessitates a new location.
  • In 2024, the Township Board appointed a Senior/Community Center Task Force to evaluate site options and building configurations. One recommendation was for a senior center only, and the other was for a combined community and senior center.
  • At the May 8, 2025 meeting, the Township Board voted to proceed with a combined Community and Senior Center proposal.
  • The millage proposals are written so that if one passes and the other fails, neither one can take effect.
  • If approved by voters, the millages would start on the December 2025 tax bill.

View our Proposed Community and Senior Center FAQ Document for additional information. Conceptual drawings, financial information, and ballot language can also be found below. For questions, please contact center@meridian.mi.us or 517.853.4258.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER OPERATING MILLAGE

For the purposes of funding expansions and improvements to existing senior center services and operation and maintenance of a new community and senior center and related improvements and services, shall the Constitutional limitation upon the total amount of taxes which may be assessed in one (1) year upon all property within the Charter Township of Meridian be increased and a new additional millage of up to 0.3475 mill ($0.3475 per $1,000 of taxable value) be levied for the period of ten (10) years (2025-2034) inclusive? If approved and levied in full, this Millage will raise an estimated $813,487 in the first calendar year of the levy of which a portion may be disbursed to local tax increment financing authorities such as the Meridian Township Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. Adoption of this proposal is conditioned on adoption of the Township Community and Senior Center Project Bond proposal at this election.

  • Yes
  • No
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTER PROJECT BOND

For the purposes of paying the cost of constructing a new community and senior center facility, including, but not limited to the cost of acquiring, designing, constructing, furnishing and equipping this, and related improvements, parking and site improvements, shall the Charter Township of Meridian, Ingham County, Michigan, borrow a principal amount not to exceed $19,415,000 and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds for all or a portion of that amount in one or more series payable over not to exceed 20 years from the date of issue of each series? Adoption of this proposal is conditioned on adoption of the Township Community and Senior Center Operating millage at this election.

The estimated millage to be levied in the first year of the levy is 0.5576 mill ($0.5576 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds over approximately 20 years is 0.5568 mill ($0.5568 per $1,000 of taxable value).

  • Yes
  • No

All qualified, verified, and registered voters in Meridian Township can vote on these millages. To check where you are currently registered to vote, change your voter registration, find your polling location, or view sample ballots, please visit www.michigan.gov/vote.

Information about early voting, how to return your absentee ballot, and overseas/military voting can be found at www.meridian.mi.us/vote.

Meridian Township staff have created an FAQ document to address common questions. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and staff will continue to add questions as they arise.

To view the FAQ document, visit the link below:

Proposed Community and Senior Center FAQ Document

How would the project be funded? 

The Township has secured a $5 million grant from the State of Michigan to help fund the construction. State grant funds must be fully expended by the Township by September 30, 2025.  

Additionally, Meridian Township residents will vote on two millages during the August 5, 2025 special election. The new millages include the construction bond proposal (0.5576 mill) and an operating millage (0.3475 mill). If passed, the total millage rate increase would be 0.9051 mill. 

How much would the project cost to build?

The current construction estimate for the project is $24 million. The cost estimate includes site preparation, infrastructure, building construction, and furnishings. These costs do not include land since the Township already owns the property. 

How much would the facility cost to operate? 

Annual operating costs are estimated to be approximately $1.1 million for the building, including long term planning for standard maintenance items, staffing needs, and basic operating costs (utilities, cleaning supplies, etc.). The estimate of operating costs does not include potential offsets from user fees and rental revenue.

If the millages pass, how much would I be expected to pay as a property owner? 

The average taxable value of single-family detached homes in Meridian Township is $152,197. A home with this average value would pay $138 per year. The average value of condominiums is $91,599. A condominium with this average value would pay $83 per year. Instructions to calculate your home’s payment can be found below.

You can calculate exactly how much you would pay by looking up your current taxable value, dividing it by 1,000, and multiplying it by 0.9051:

Taxable Value/1000 * 0.9051 = millage cost per year

How to Look Up Your Taxable Value:

  • To look up your current taxable value, visit bsaonline.com/?uid=1274
  • Enter your address and hit Search
  • Select your address
  • Scroll down to the General Information for Tax Year 2025 tab
  • Look at the amount in the Taxable Value row

The following table shows approximately how much property owners would pay annually under these two millages: 

Market Value of Home

Taxable Value of Home

Annual Increase to Property Tax Bill

$200,000.00

$100,000.00

$91

$250,000.00

$125,000.00

$113

$300,000.00

$150,000.00

$136

$350,000.00

$175,000.00

$158

$400,000.00

$200,000.00

$181

$450,000.00

$225,000.00

$204

$500,000.00

$250,000.00

$226

$550,000.00

$275,000.00

$249

$600,000.00

$300,000.00

$272

On August 5, Meridian Township residents cast their votes on two ballot proposals for a new Community and Senior Center. The proposals included a construction bond and an operating millage. Both measures were rejected. A breakdown of the final results can be found at the end of this story.

Following the election, the Township Board met on August 7 to determine possible next steps. At the meeting, Township staff shared four options with the Board. Each option provides varying odds of retaining the $5 million grant from the State of Michigan, which must be used by September 30, 2026.

The four options are as follows:

  • Option 1: New Construction
  • Option 2: Partner with a Local School District
  • Option 3: Partnership with Another Agency
  • Option 4: Reassessment and New Strategy

A more detailed explanation of the options is available on page 136 of the August 7 Township Board Meeting Packet. You can also watch a replay of the meeting at the following link: August 7 Township Board Meeting Video.

After their discussion, the Board directed staff to pursue option 2: partnering with local school districts as well as re-evaluating existing buildings that could serve the community's needs. Staff is still working on this and will provide more details once they become available. If you have additional questions, please contact center@meridian.mi.us.

August 5, 2025 Special Election Results:

Meridian Township Community and Senior Center Operating Millage

  • Yes (3,883 votes; 43.58%)
  • No (5,027 votes; 56.42%)

Meridian Township Community and Senior Center Project Bond

  • Yes (3,723 votes; 41.73%)
  • No (5,199 votes; 58.27%)

These results were provided by the Ingham County Clerk's Office and can be viewed at the link below:

August 5 Election Results for Ingham County

Staff

Tim Dempsey
Township Manager
dempsey@meridian.mi.us
517.853.4254

Dan Opsommer
Deputy Township Manager/Director of Public Works
opsommer@meridian.mi.us
517.853.4440

Michelle Prinz
Executive Assistant
prinz@meridian.mi.us
517.853.4258