Welcome to Sparta
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Now you can have your utility bills emailed to you. Sign up for paperless utility billing from the Village of Sparta.
Visit our Water, Sewer and Utilities page to learn more.
2026 Utility Rate Schedule
Please see the attached file for the current 2026 Utility Rates & Fees.
Download a File:
2026 Utility Fee Schedule (PDF)
Online Bill Pay
The Village of Sparta has recently switched over to BS&A Online to process water/sewer bills, permits, park fees, and property tax payments. Click here to pay your bill online.
Residents are encouraged to create a BS&A Online account, although it is not required to make a payment. Setting up an account will allow you to see the payment history, receipts, water usage, and more. You can pay with cash, credit card, and check through our office at 276 W Division Street or via US mail to pay fees.
Payments will be posted in real-time, so as soon as you enter your payment, it will automatically be deducted from your account. Please note there is a fee of 3% when you pay with a credit card with a minimum fee of $2.00.
Village News & Notes
Martindale Avenue Boardwalk Closure
The Village of Sparta announces that the Martindale Avenue pedestrian bridge/boardwalk will be closed to the public beginning Monday, October 26, 2026, for structural repairs.
The project will address movement of the existing support structure and includes structural stabilization, replacement of decking in the affected area, railing work, and restoration of disturbed areas. The repairs are intended to restore the boardwalk to a safe and stable condition.
The closure is expected to remain in effect through November 30, 2026, the scheduled substantial completion date, weather and construction conditions permitting. For public safety, pedestrians are asked to avoid the closed area until the boardwalk reopens.
The Village appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as we complete these necessary improvements.
For updates and additional information, please visit the Village of Sparta website or follow us on social media.
Village of Sparta Statement Regarding Kent County Circuit Court Ruling on Library Millage
The Village of Sparta is very pleased with the order issued by the Kent County Circuit Court regarding the Sparta library millage.
From the beginning, the Village's goal in pursuing this legal action was never to strip the library of needed funding. Rather, our objective was to obtain clarity on two important questions: Could the millage legally be implemented given the errors in the ballot language? And, if so, would the millage be limited to the 0.2375 mills voters were told they were renewing, despite language that appeared to authorize a higher levy?
In fact, one of the specific remedies the Village requested in its court filing was for the Court "to issue a declaratory ruling that clarifies whether the Township can validly authorize the millage annually in an amount not to exceed .2375 mill." In other words, we specifically asked the Court to determine whether the library could continue receiving its funding while establishing a legally enforceable limit on the amount that could be collected.
Ultimately, the Court reached what we believe is the best possible outcome for everyone involved, and one that directly addresses the relief the Village requested.
The library will be able to continue collecting its millage funding, despite the acknowledged flaws in the ballot language. At the same time, the Court's order establishes a legally binding limit of 0.2375 mills.
In many respects, this is a win for both sides. The library retains its funding, and taxpayers receive the legal certainty they deserve.
Some casual observers may question why this lawsuit was necessary. After all, Township officials had publicly stated that they did not intend to levy more than 0.2375 mills. Why spend taxpayer dollars to establish something that officials said they were already going to do?
The answer is relatively simple: There is a difference between a promise made by elected officials and a legally binding court order.
It is no secret that public trust in government, at all levels, has been strained. Throughout this process, Village Council members heard from residents who were legitimately concerned that the flawed ballot language could eventually be used to justify a substantially higher millage. Those concerns were not unreasonable, particularly when the language approved by voters appeared to conflict with the public explanations of what the millage would authorize.
The Village Council listened to those concerns and took action to obtain a definitive legal answer. That answer is now established through a court order and will remain in place regardless of who holds elected office at the Village, Township, or library in the future.
For many residents, that certainty is worth something.
Representing Village Residents
We have also been asked about the cost of this litigation, and we believe taxpayers deserve a straightforward answer.
Before addressing that cost, however, it is worth considering who the Village Council was seeking to represent.
Sparta Township's Precinct 1 consists exclusively of Village of Sparta residents. Of the 3,461 registered voters in that precinct, 513 voted in favor of the library millage, while 404 voted against it. That means just 14.8% of registered Village voters affirmatively supported the proposal, while another 2,544 either did not participate in the election or did not cast a vote on the millage question.
We are certainly not suggesting that those who did not vote opposed the millage. However, these numbers illustrate an important point: The Village Council represents all Village residents, not simply the 513 who voted yes.
That includes the 404 residents who voted no, those who did not participate, and even those who voted yes believing they were simply renewing the existing 0.2375-mill tax.
The issue was never whether the library deserved funding. It was whether confusing and admittedly flawed ballot language could someday be used to impose a substantially higher tax than residents believed they were approving.
The Council believed those concerns deserved a definitive answer, regardless of how someone voted.
The Cost of Litigation
That brings us to the cost. The Village has spent more than $50,000 on this legal action, and the Township and library will also have legal expenses associated with defending the ballot language.
That is a significant amount of public money, and we do not take that lightly.
Depending on your perspective, you may believe those dollars were well spent to protect taxpayers from the possibility of a future tax increase. Others may believe the expenditure was unnecessary because Township officials had already promised not to exceed the lower millage rate.
We understand both perspectives.
It would also be easy to focus entirely on the mistakes made in preparing the original ballot language and assign blame for the situation. The Court itself acknowledged the problems with the language, which were at the heart of this dispute. Those errors created legitimate uncertainty and ultimately led to this litigation.
However, assigning blame is not particularly productive at this point. The important thing is that the Court has now resolved the central issue in a way that protects both the library's funding and the taxpayers.
Remaining DDA Funding Issue
One issue that remains unresolved is the ballot language concerning Downtown Development Authority funding. The ballot indicated that a portion of the millage would be captured by the DDA, when that was not actually the case.
While this was a legitimate issue to raise as part of the broader concerns with the ballot language, the amount involved is relatively small, approximately $3,000 annually.
Furthermore, if the Village successfully transitions to city status, this particular portion of the DDA's tax capture would no longer apply anyway. Given those circumstances, we do not believe this remaining issue warrants additional litigation or expense.
Moving Forward
Our focus now is on moving forward.
We expect the library to promptly restore the services that were prematurely reduced during this dispute, now that the Court has confirmed the millage funding can continue. We also hope that everyone involved can put this matter behind them and redirect their time, energy, and resources toward the many other important issues facing our community.
At the end of the day, the Village never sought to deprive the library of funding. We sought certainty for taxpayers, accountability in the implementation of a voter-approved millage, and a legally enforceable resolution to a legitimate problem.
The library keeps its funding. Taxpayers receive a legally binding cap of 0.2375 mills. Both sides can move forward.
That is the outcome we had hoped for, and we are pleased that this chapter is finally behind us.
Public Notice
Date: October 5, 2026
Permit No.: MI0060116 Designated Site Name: Sparta MS4-Kent
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (Department), Water Resources Division (WRD), proposes to reissue a permit to the Village of Sparta for the Village of Sparta Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System located in Kent County, Michigan. The applicant discharges stormwater to surface waters of the state of Michigan.
The draft permit includes the following modifications to the previously issued permit: Permit language has been revised to incorporate updated references and terminology. Progress Reports are now due annually on March 1.
Copies of the permit application, Public Notice, draft permit, and other relevant documents associated with this proposed permitting action may be obtained via the Internet at https://mienviro.michigan.gov/ncore/ (select ‘Public Notice Search,’ enter the permit number into the search field, and then click ‘Search’), or at the WRD's Grand Rapids District Office located at State Office Building, Fifth Floor 350 Ottawa Ave NW, Unit 10, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2341 telephone: (616) 356-0500.
Persons wishing to submit comments on the draft permit should do so through MiEnviro Portal. Go to https://mienviro.michigan.gov/ncore/, select ‘Public Notice Search,’ search for this public notice by entering the permit number into the search field, click ‘Search,’ click ‘View,’ click ‘Add Comment,’ enter information into the fields, and then click ‘Submit.’ Comments or objections to the draft permit received by November 4, 2026, will be considered in the final decision to issue the permit, as will comments made at a public hearing, should one be requested and held by the Department on the draft permit.
Any person may request the Department to hold a public hearing on the draft permit. The request should include specific reasons for the request, indicating which portions of the draft permit constitute the need for a hearing. If submitted comments indicate significant public interest in the draft permit or if useful information may be produced, the Department may, at its discretion, hold a public hearing on the draft permit. If a public hearing is scheduled, public notice of the hearing will be provided at least 30 days in advance. Inquiries should be directed to Jessica Stiles, Permits Section, WRD, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, P.O. Box 30458, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7958; telephone: (517) 525-9437; or e-mail: StilesJ1@Michigan.gov.
2026 Brush, Grass Clipping & Leaf Collection Schedule
The Village of Sparta’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to announce the 2026 schedule for brush, grass clipping, and loose-leaf collection. These services help keep our community clean and our storm drains clear throughout the growing and fall seasons.
2026 Brush & Grass Clipping Pick-Up
Start Date: Monday, April 6, 2026
Brush Pick-Up Dates (First Monday of Each Month – Weather Permitting):
• April 6, 2026
• May 4, 2026
• June 1, 2026
• July 6, 2026
• August 3, 2026
• September 8, 2026 (Tuesday due to Labor Day)
• October 5, 2026 (Final Brush Pick-Up)
Brush Guidelines
• Brush must not exceed 4 inches in diameter.
• Place brush between the sidewalk and curb — not in the street.
• Cut ends should face the direction of traffic flow.
• Do not mix leaves, grass clippings, or garden waste with brush piles.
Grass Clipping Pick-Up:
• Weekly on Mondays beginning April 6, 2026
• Grass clipping bag collection will end the fourth week of October 2026
Grass Clipping Guidelines
• Grass clippings must be placed in recyclable paper bags (no plastic bags).
• Each bag must weigh no more than 50 pounds.
• Bags must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on pick-up day.
Loose Leaf Pick-Up
• Loose leaf vacuum collection begins Monday, October 5, 2026.
• Leaf collection will continue through the week of December 1, 2026, or until the first significant snowfall — whichever occurs first.
Leaf Collection Guidelines:
• Rake leaves into piles between the curb and sidewalk (or at the road edge if no curb/sidewalk exists).
• Do not rake leaves into the street.
• Keep leaf piles free of sticks, brush, grass clippings, garden waste, and trash.
• Avoid parking vehicles in front of leaf piles so crews can access them.
After yard waste bag collection ends in the fourth October, residents may take garden waste and grass clippings to Cannonsburg Wood Products (7635 Cannonsburg Rd NE, Belmont, MI) for a small fee.
For questions, please contact:
Village Office: (616) 887-8251
DPW Staff: (616) 887-9303
Thank you for helping keep the Village of Sparta clean and beautiful throughout the year.
Village of Sparta
Department of Public Works
