Opposition group says 'this is a huge tax increase' (May 3 Millage Election - Livingston County)

Daily Press and Argus ^ | 4-21-05 | Christopher Nagy

[Dan from Michigan]

Opposition group says 'this is a huge tax increase'

By Christopher Nagy
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
(snip)

The upcoming countywide enhancement millage has been a different sort of animal, though, with dozens of opposition letters submitted to the Daily Press & Argus and a fully formed opposition group taking to the streets to counter the messages of pro-millage groups.

Cohoctah Township resident Bill Johnston, who formed the Concerned Taxpayers Group in hopes of defeating the May 3 proposal, said a variety of factors play into the groundswell against this particular millage.

"First of all, for the taxpayers, this is going to be a huge tax increase," Johnston said. "It's not going to be good for Michigan or for Livingston County."

The $60 million to $70 million the 3 mills would raise over three years for schools are funds that will be taken out of the state's economy, which is in need of a boost as well, he said.

"The fixed-income people are going to have a hard time paying for it," Johnston added. "We're going from 6 mills (levied on property by the state for schools) to 9 mills with the millage."

The current economy doesn't help the situation, either. The sentiment is that times are hard on everyone, and there are no extra funds in the pockets of taxpayers to give to the schools, Johnston said, which is partially why opposition to the enhancement millage has been so vocal.

The other reason residents are crying foul is because of how schools have spent the funding they have already received, he added.

"It's not a funding problem. It's a spending problem," Johnston said. "The schools say revenues have fallen for districts, yet they've continued to spend."

[Dan from Michigan]

I can not support this tax. The schools have not managed their money properly. This millage is a quick fix, and does not solve their funding problem as the schools will be in debt three years from now.

The election is May 3rd. I'm voting no.