Tonight I really feel good. Last week in "What's Your Deal" I made some comments in the Property Tax discussion regarding my city council deciding to enact a tax hike up to three mills for Police funding. But it's not what you think.

Michigan has limits on property taxes for primary residence, a tax limit of what used to be yearly hikes. Without going into every little thing, Reader's Digest version is as follows. A tax hike in excess of the inflation rate can be enacted by a Headlee Override (amendment to maximum rate) if passed by the voters. City Council wants more money for infrastructure improvements, some questionable, but feels that voters will turn it down. So they take money from the General Fund allocated for police, shift it to the infrastructure improvements. Now with the underfunded police, because of several quirks in Michigan law the city can implement a Special Assessment District (may not be legal to do so, various legal opinions say it is not)for police protection and raise up to three mills without a vote by the public. Another quirk of state law, this is legal for municipal governments with a population of less than 15,000 (we are about 9300) to do so.

Two weeks of a packed gallery, standing room only and about two and a half hours of comments from citizens later, vote came. Two weeks ago council was unanimous in favor, all seven. Tonight, revote. Six and six, Mayor was the deciding "no" vote. The proposal is now headed to the November ballot, time for both sides to make their case and may the best case win.

Thank you citizens of Howell,we were heard. It was not a case of anti-tax but how it was attempted.

Sounds good! Now if we could only get the citizenry riled up enough to shit can this no fault insurance.
And fix the street.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Sounds good! Now if we could only get the citizenry riled up enough to shit can this no fault insurance.
And fix the street.

I thought up guys drove dog sleds year round in the Yoop....