Departments & Officials
Board of Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners is responsible for approving general annual budgets of other County officials, raising money to fund County operations, and representing the County through the adoption of rules, regulations and policies; among many other services.
Bureau of Equalization
The Bureau of Equalization carries out both property appraisal and mapping functions on behalf of taxpayers and municipalities in Kent County.
Community Action
The Community Action Division focuses on meeting emergency needs such as, but not limited to, food, utility assistance, housing, transportation and socialization for residents of Kent County.
County Administrator
The Administrator's Office is responsible for assisting the Board in meeting identified goals; developing annual budget recommendations; preparing agenda items for the Board of Commissioners; developing procedures to accompany Board policies; providing legal counsel in all legal County matters; conducting program, departmental, and management analyses; coordinating the pursuit of the Board's legislative agenda; and providing general administrative support.
County Clerk
The Clerk issues, indexes, and records vital records, such as marriage licenses, birth certificates, and death certificates. As Register of Deeds, this position is responsible for receiving, recording and reproducing all documents affecting real property ownership. The Clerk is also responsible for all election activities in Kent County. As Clerk of the Court, the County Clerk receives, indexes & maintains all Circuit Court files and collects all court fines, costs and victim restitution payments.
Drain Commissioner
The Office of the Drain Commissioner maintains the Kent County drains and storm water detention ponds. They also assist in watershed studies.
Elections
The County Clerk oversees all elections conducted in Kent County with respect to Michigan and Federal election law.
Fiscal Services
Fiscal Services manages County accounting, budgets and payroll; the department provides the County's annual financial report and audit.
GIS
A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. A GIS helps us visualize, question, analyze, interpret, and understand data to reveal relationships, patterns, and trends.
Health Department
The Health Department provides information and services to citizens of Kent County in an effort to promote public health. The Health Department provides preventative services, such as vision and hearing screening for citizens.
Human Resources
Human Resources is responsible for hiring, and providing services for, County employees; the department maintains efforts to sustain a diverse work force, and provides training and development programs for employees.
Public Defender
Kent County's program arises from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission Act of 2013, which created the Commission (MIDC). The MIDC, in turn, has created standards for legal services provided to indigent criminal defendants. Our program implements and maintains services to meet those standards for the 63rd District and 17th Circuit Courts. Some of the services we maintain assist defendants in other district courts in the County.
Kent/MSU Extension Office
The Michigan State University Extension provides information relating to locally-identified issues. The Kent/MSU Extension provides Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resource programs, as well as education programs including waste management, financial planning and farm management information.
Parks
The Parks Department manages and maintains the 37 county parks; including, Kent County Parks, LE Kaufman Golf Course Park and Millennium Park. The department provides detailed park information, including shelter types and availability, park operation hours, admission and reservation fees.
Prosecutor's Office
The Prosecutor's Office is a representative for the State or County in Circuit or District Court cases.
Public Works
The Department of Public Works provides solid waste management services. The department maintains the solid waste disposal sites, recycling facilities and the waste-to-energy facility.
Purchasing
The Purchasing Department is responsible for procuring goods and services for the County departments. The department provides requests for bids, proposals and quotes, and is also responsible for the sale of surplus county goods.
Register of Deeds
The Register of Deeds (who in Kent County, also serves as the County Clerk) records and indexes all documents related to property in Kent County; the department provides real property records dating back to 1970 for purchase online.
Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office works to protect the safety and security of County residents provides for a safe and secure correctional facility.
Treasurer
The Treasurer collects lodging and delinquent real property taxes and manages other County funds received.
Kent County Veterans Services
The Kent County Veterans Services provides financial assistance to veterans or their widow/widower.