Free Republic

Vote No: Schools must live within means Friday, April 29, 2005 BY KEN MOILANEN Special to The News Those proclaiming the "critical" need for additional school funding tell only part of the story. Here is a different perspective. Here is ... the rest of the story. Thomas Watkins, recent state superintendent of public instruction, had it right when he stated in his Dec. 6, 2004, Michigan School Funding report that "calls to raise taxes to fund education without a systematic overhaul will only serve to maintain the status quo. For our children's sake, this is unacceptable." He further said that...

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...

Millage for survival? Districts' officials say they are trying to buy time for revamping of school funding Friday, March 25, 2005 BY LISA CAROLIN News Staff Reporter Officially, the 3-mill school tax levy that Livingston County voters will decide May 3 is called an enhancement millage. If approved, an additional $19.767 million will be spread among the county's five public school districts to help pay for operations. But school officials call it a survival millage. They argue that the three-year levy will allow the current educational program to survive another three years. They hope that will be long enough for...

4 districts unify for bond vote All but Fowlerville to give support Jan. 24 Friday, January 14, 2005 BY LEANNE SMITH News Staff Reporters A resolution supporting a countywide enhancement millage is expected to be adopted Jan. 24 by four Livingston County school districts. Officials and board members in Brighton, Hartland, Howell and Pinckney hope this show of solidarity for the 3-mill levy demonstrates just how important the millage is to their schools' survival, said Pinckney Superintendent Mike Couchman. "We agreed we all need to do this together," Couchman said. "This spirit of solidarity is very encouraging." The resolution supports...

Millage election proposed for May Howell, others eye countywide plan to beef up local school funding Wednesday, January 7, 2005 BY STEPHENIE KOEHN News Staff Reporter The particulars of a long-discussed regional school enhancement millage were spelled out Monday when the Howell Board of Education got a look at the draft of a resolution calling for a countywide May election to bolster school funding locally. The proposal asks voters for a 3-mill increase in property taxes for three years, from 2005-2007. School districts countywide have been considering the wisdom of requesting a millage seeking a temporary increase in property taxes...

We have several upcoming events this month around the state. Mecosta Co Chapter Formation @ Green Twp Hall in Paris Date: Friday, May 17, 2002 Time: 7:00-9:00 PM Location: Green Twp Hall 21431 Northland Drive Paris, Mi 49338 Description: Mecosta County Chapter Formation Meeting. Meeting - Ionia County Chapter@Ionia VFW Hall w/Alan Cropsey Date: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 Time: 7:00 P.M. Location: Ionia VFW Hall M-66 1 block North of M-21 Ionia, MI 48846 Description: Guest speakers: Ross Dykman and Alan Cropsey. Meeting - Washtenaw County Chapter - Tri County Sportsman's League Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 Time: 7:30 P.M....