Recall Change Could Be Unconstitutional

Recall Change Could Be Unconstitutional: [...] More: Recall Change Could Be Unconstitutional


If everyone, including the legislature, were doing their job, none of this would be necessary.  By passing this law it makes it almost impossible for anyone that doesn't have a ton of money behind them or an army , such as a union, to have a recall.   The State Constitution says that the language must be clear period. It is up to those for or opposed to the recall to determine the outcome of the recall.   The validity of the argument will be determined at the polls.  The self righteous know it all attitude of some of our legislators is what gets them in trouble in the first place. They forget they represent us not themselves.

I should attempt to recall someone just to have standing in the courts to throw this self serving law in the garbage where it belongs. If they vote for something they should believe in it enough to explain it and defend it.  If they neither believe in it nor can defend it they should not have voted for it.  It was difficult enough to recall someone under the old law.

Timeline of Major Provisions in the Obamacare Package

Taken from the Ways and Means Committee

2009

 •2‐year tax credit (total cap of $1B) for new chronic disease therapy investments
•Medicare cuts to hospitals begin (long‐term care (7/1/09) and inpatient and
2009 rehabilitation facilities (FY10))

2010

•States and Federal officials review premium increases
•FDA authorized to approve "follow‐on" biologics
•Increase brand name pharmaceutical Medicaid rebate (from 15.1% to 23.1%)
•Medicare payments to physicians in  primarily rural areas increase (2 years)
•Deny "black liquor" eligibility for cellulosic biofuel producers credit
•Tax credits provided to certain small employers  for health care‐related expenses
•Increase adoption tax incentives for 2 years
•Codify economic substance doctrine and impose penalties for underpayments
(transactions on/after 3/23/10)
•Provide income exclusion for specified Indian tribe health benefits provided after
3/23/10
•Temporary high‐risk pool and high‐cost union retiree reinsurance ($5 B each for 3.5
years) (6/23/10)
•Impose 10% tax on indoor UV tanning (7/1/10)
•Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/10)
•Prohibits lifetime and annual benefit spending limits (plan years beginning 9/23/10)
•Prohibits non‐group plans from canceling coverage (rescissions) (plan years
beginning 9/23/10)
•Requires plans to cover, at no charge, most preventive care (plan years beginning
9/23/10)
•Allows dependents to stay on parents’ policies through age 26 (plan years
beginning 9/23/10)
•Provides limited protections to children with pre‐existing conditions (plan years
beginning 9/23/10)
•Hospitals  in "Frontier States" (ND, MT, WY, SD, UT ) receive higher Medicare
payments (FY11)
•Hospitals in “low‐cost” areas receive higher Medicare payments for 2 yrs ($400
million, FY11)

2011

•Medicare Advantage cuts begin
•No longer allowed to use FSA, HSA, HRA, Archer MSA distributions for over‐the‐
counter medicines
•Medicare cuts to home health begin
•Wealthier seniors  ($85k/$170k) begin paying higher Part D premiums (not indexed
for inflation in Parts B/D)
•Medicare reimbursement cuts when seniors use diagnostic imaging like MRIs, CT
scans, etc.
•Medicare cuts begin to  ambulance services, ASCs, diagnostic labs, and durable
medical equipment
•Impose new annual  tax on brand name pharmaceutical companies
•Americans begin paying premiums for federal long‐term care insurance (CLASS Act)
•Health plans required to spend a minimum of 80% of premiums on medical claims
•Physicians in "Frontier States" (ND, MT, WY, SD, UT ) receive higher Medicare
payments
•Prohibition on Medicare payments to new physician‐owned hospitals
•Penalties for non‐qualified HSA and Archer MSA distributions double (to 20%)
•Seniors prohibited from purchasing power wheelchairs unless they first rent for 13
months
•Brand name drug companies begin providing 50% discount in the Part D “donut
hole”
•10% Medicare bonus payment for primary care and general surgery (5 years)
•Employers required to report value of health benefits on W‐2
•Steps towards health insurance administrative simplification (reduced paperwork,
etc) begins (5 yr process)
•Additional funding for community health centers (5 years)
•Seniors who hit Part D “donut hole "in 2010 receive $250 check (3/15/11)
•New Medicare cuts  to  long‐term care hospitals begin (7/1/11)
•Additional Medicare cuts to hospitals and cuts to nursing homes and inpatient
rehab facilities begin (FY12)
•New tax on all private health insurance policies to pay for comp. eff. research (plan
years  beginning FY12)

2012

•Medicare cuts to dialysis treatment begins
•Require information reporting on payments to corporations
•Medicare to reduce  spending by using an HMO‐like coordinated care  model
(Accountable Care Organizations)
•Medicare Advantage plans with a 4 or 5 star rating receive a quality bonus payment
•New Medicare cuts to inpatient psych hospitals (7/1/12)
•Hospital pay‐for‐quality program begins  (FY13)
•Medicare cuts to hospitals with high readmission rates begin (FY13)
•Medicare cuts to hospice begin (FY13)

2013

•Impose $2,500 annual cap on FSA contributions (indexed to CPI)
•Increase Medicare wage tax by 0.9% and impose a new 3.8% tax on unearned , non‐
active business income for those earning over $200k/$250k (not indexed to inflation)
•Generally increases (7.5% to 10%) threshold at which medical expenses, as a % of
income, can be deductible
•Eliminate deduction for Part D retiree drug subsidy employers receive
•Impose 2.3% excise tax on medical devices
•Medicare cuts to hospitals who treat low‐income seniors begin
•Post‐acute pay for quality reporting begins
•CO‐OP Program: Secretary awards loans and grants for establishing nonprofit health
insurers
•$500,000 deduction cap on compensation paid to insurance company employees and
officers
•Part D “donut hole” reduction begins, reaching a 25% reduction by 2020

2014

•Individuals without gov't‐approved coverage are subject to a tax of the greater of
$695 or 2.5% of income
•Employers who fail to offer "affordable" coverage would pay a $3,000 penalty for
every employee that receives a subsidy through the Exchange
•Employers who do not offer insurance must pay a tax penalty of $2,000 for every full‐
time employee
•More Medicare cuts to home health begin
•States must have established Exchanges
•Employers with more than 200 employees can auto‐enroll employees in health
coverage, with opt‐out
•All non‐grandfathered and Exchange health plans required to meet federally‐
mandated levels of coverage
•States must cover parents /childless adults up to 138% of poverty on Medicaid,
receive increased FMAP
•Tax credits available for Exchange‐based coverage, amount varies by income up to
400% of poverty
•Insurers cannot impose any  coverage restrictions on pre‐existing conditions
(guaranteed issue/renewability)
•Modified community rating: individual or family coverage; geography; 3:1 ratio for
age; 1.5 :1 for smoking
•Insurers must offer coverage to anyone wanting a policy and every policy has to be
renewed
•Limits out‐of‐pocket cost‐sharing (tied to limits in HSAs, currently $5,950/$11,900
indexed to COLA)
•Insurance plans must include  government‐defined "essential benefits " and coverage
levels
•OPM must offer at least two multi‐state plans in every state
•Employers can offer some employees free choice vouchers for health insurance in the
Exchange
•Government board (IPAB) begins submitting proposals to cut Medicare
•Impose tax on nearly all private health insurance plans
•Medicare payment cuts for hospital‐acquired infections begin (FY15)
2014

2015

2015 •More Medicare cuts to home health begin

2016

2016 •States can form interstate insurance compacts if the coverage with HHS approval (2016)

2017

•Physician pay‐for‐quality program begins for all physicians
•States may allow large employers and multi‐employer health plans to purchase coverage
in the Exchange.
•States may apply to the Secretary for a limited waiver from certain federal requirements
2017

2018

•Impose "Cadillac tax on “high cost” plans, 40% tax on the benefit value above a certain
threshold: ($10,200 individual coverage, $27,500 family or  self‐only union multi‐
employer coverage)

Let the Wind Production Tax Credit Expire

The Wayne County Taxpayers Association has been asked to join a coalition to support the expiration of the wind production tax credit and our board has decided to participate.

First established by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the federal production tax credit (PTC) was intended to be a temporary measure to jump start renewable energy. Since its establishment nearly 20 years ago, the PTC has expired three times and been extended on five occasions – most recently in 2009 as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Most extensions have been for a period of one or two years, and several extensions have amended the list of qualifying facilities. Under current law, the credit will expire on Dec. 31, 2012.

Taxpayers have paid $20 billion so far . . .

In the past 20 years, taxpayers have paid more than $20 billion in tax subsidies to support the wind industry.

Even if Congress allows the wind production tax credit (PTC) to expire this year, American taxpayers remain on the hook to pay nearly $10 billion for existing wind projects.

The PTC’s costs are increasing, but wind jobs are not.

The subsidy cost continues to increase. According to EIA, as recently as FY2007, the PTC cost the government $426 million compared to $1.5 billion in 2010.  In FY 2010 alone, wind producers received $4.9 billion in subsidies from the federal government.  

Even with the PTC and wind generation additions, the wind industry lost 10,000 jobs between 2009 and 2010 – a 12% drop – and employment stagnated between 2010 and 2011. The wind PTC is not creating more jobs, but it is costing taxpayers more money each year. 

American taxpayers will pay billions more if the PTC is extended.

Extending the PTC just one year would cost taxpayers an additional   $12.1 billion. Subsidizing non-market driven wind jobs eliminates jobs elsewhere in the economy.

What does the American taxpayer get for those billions?

In 2010, wind companies received 42% of all government energy subsidies, but provided only 2.3% of the electricity generated.

The PTC rewards wind projects for every kilowatt-hour of electricity they generate, not for providing electricity inexpensively or when needed or devising cheaper ways to operate.

Since 1995, shortly after the PTC was first established, wind power has grown from 0.09% to 2.9% in 2011 of total U.S. electricity production; EIA projects it will only grow to 11% by 2035.

How much does wind really cost?

Electricity from wind by itself is more costly to produce (offshore more so than onshore) than, for

example, electricity from nuclear energy. The additional costs are passed on to households through electricity rates.

The levelized costs of energy for wind, reflecting the absence of the PTC after 2012, are close to competitive with combined-cycle natural gas in areas with good wind resources, and become more competitive by 2014 with only modest improvements

The Production Tax Credit Distorts Markets and Hinders the Operation and Development of Other Forms of Generation.

The maintenance of perpetual subsidies is not a sustainable solution to the new challenges facing the US clean tech industry. In the worst cases, maintaining lucrative, blunt subsidies over prolonged periods can even create a dis-incentive for firms to innovate or can support ‘dead end’ technologies that have no viable path to long-term competitiveness.

STOP the shell game and END the “Temporary Tax”

This is a familiar story, where a tax is created for one purpose, then diverted to another in a political shell game at the Capitol, when it really should have gone away.

Twenty-five years ago, in 1987, a special tax was created in Wayne County, a 30% tax on parking at and around Detroit Metro Airport that raised about $8 million annually.

It was designed as a bailout for an earlier Wayne County fiscal crisis. It was supposed to go away in 2010 when the bailout debt was paid off, but in typical style, the debt is gone but the tax remains.

Currently the tax brings in $21.5 million annually,and has raised over $340 million in the last 25

years. Some goes to the State Aeronautics Fund. Some goes to the City of Romulus. Most goes to Wayne County, not to solve a fiscal crisis or to support airport operations, but to fund indigent health care.

Now Senate Bill 1257 plays another shell game with this tax money. Under this bill, most of the revenue would be diverted to pay for Medicaid.There’s no tax like this at any other airport in Michigan. And there’s no good reason the business and vacation travelers who park their cars at Metro Airport should pay a special tax to fund Medicaid. Medicaid is for the entire state, not just a handful of travelers.And there’s a good reason to stop this diversion of funds dead in its tracks: it most likely violates federal law and common sense. Two different federal laws say you

can’t tax airport travelers and divert the funds away from air travel.
Furthermore, it’s the diversion of money off the Airport to the County that prompted the legislature to make the Airport a body independent of Wayne County 10 years ago. That legislation was supposed to separate the Airport financially from the County, now it’s time to finish what was started over a decade ago.
Enough is enough. Twenty-five years have passed and now is the time to repeal the airport parking tax.
Temporary taxes should be temporary, and shouldn’t live on just because politicians get
addicted to the money. But if they’re going to keep levying this tax, every dime of the revenue should be earmarked directly for the airport – improving its safety, security and operational effectiveness for the traveling public. Taxing the parking at the airport is an airport user fee. And money from an airport user fee should stay at the airport.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO GET INVOLVED EMAIL STOPTHESHELLGAME@GMAIL.COM

Wayne County Proposals and Judges In Our View

The November ballot will be an extremely long. It behooves you to study it before youe  go to vote.  This is our take on the Wayne County Questions and conservative judges.

FORM OF THE WAYNE COUNTY

BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE  

"SHALL THE WAYNE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO ADD A NEW SECTION 5.120 AND TO AMEND EXISTING SECTION 5.134 TO AUTHORIZE THE WAYNE COUNTY COMMISSION RATHER THAN THE WAYNE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ESTABLISH THE FORM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LUMP-SUM AND LINE-ITEM) OF THE COUNTY BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE; AND TO REQUIRE THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH THE FORM OF THE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE BY DECEMBER 7, 2012 AND TO ADOPT CHANGES TO THE FORM AT LEAST TEN MONTHS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF A FISCAL YEAR TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR; AND TO ALSO AMEND SECTION 5.121 TO REQUIRE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE  TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT THE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE  IN THE FORM ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSION?"

YES

INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITOR

"SHALL SECTION 3.119(E) OF THE WAYNE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTION THAT PROHIBITS AN INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITOR FROM PROVIDING AUDIT SERVICES TO THE COUNTY FOR MORE THAN EIGHT (8) CONSECUTIVE YEARS; AND FURTHER TO REQUIRE INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITORS BE SELECTED BASED ON A COMPETITIVE PROCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE?"

YES

MEMBERSHIP ON THE WAYNE COUNTY RETIREMENT COMMISSION

"SHALL SECTION 6.112 OF THE WAYNE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO EXPAND THE WAYNE COUNTY RETIREMENT COMMISSION'S MEMBERSHIP FROM 8 TO 9, ADDING AS A MEMBER THE WAYNE COUNTY TREASURER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE; AND ALSO TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE WAYNE COUNTY COMMISSION, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE WAYNE COUNTY RETIREMENT COMMISSION, TO APPOINT A PERSON TO SERVE AS HIS OR HER DESIGNEE ON THE RETIREMENT COMMISSION; AND TO FURTHER ALLOW EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES OF THE WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR AND SERVE AS  MEMBERS OF THE WAYNE COUNTY RETIREMENT COMMISSION (WITH NO MORE THAN ONE MEMBER BEING AN AIRPORT EMPLOYEE OR RETIREE) UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY ESTABLISHES ITS OWN RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR PENSION PLAN?"

YES

REMOVAL OF THE WAYNE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FROM OFFICE BY THE GOVERNOR

"SHALL THE WAYNE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO ADD SECTION 4.124 TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNOR TO REMOVE THE WAYNE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FROM OFFICE FOR THE SAME REASONS AND WITH THE SAME DUE PROCESS AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR THE SHERIFF, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, COUNTY CLERK, REGISTER OF DEEDS, AND COUNTY TREASURER?"

YES

THE WAYNE COUNTY COMMISSION'S POWER TO APPROVE COMPENSATION

"SHALL SECTION 3.115 OF THE WAYNE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER, WHICH SETS FORTH THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE WAYNE COUNTY COMMISSION, BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE POWER AND DUTY TO APPROVE ALL COMPENSATION OF EVERY EMPLOYMENT POSITION IN THE COUNTY, UNLESS THE COMPENSATION IS ESTABLISHED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW?"

YES

WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

MILLAGE PROPOSAL

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the Wayne County Community College District be increased by one dollar per thousand dollars (1 mill) of the taxable value of all taxable property in the College District for a period of ten (10) years, the tax years commencing July 1, 2013, to July 1, 2022, inclusive, as new additional millage to provide funds for community college purposes authorized by law?  It is estimated that 1 mill would raise approximately $21,746,964 when first levied in 2013.

NO

Justice of The Supreme Court-8 Year Term (2 positions)

There are eight candidates for two openings.  Justice Stephen Markman is a conservative Justice running for re-election to his current seat.  The second 8 year term position is for the seat currently held by Marilyn Kelly, who cannot be reelected due to age limitations. Of the other candidates running for that seat I recommend Judge Colleen O’Brien.  I recommend a vote for:

·         Justice Stephen Markman

·         Judge Colleen O’Brien

Justice of The Supreme Court-Partial Term

Justice Brian Zahra, a conservative Justice who was appointed last year by Governor Snyder, must now be elected to complete his partial term ending 1/1/2015.  Justice Zahra deserves to be elected to complete his term.  My recommendation is a vote for:

·         Justice Brian Zahra

3^rd Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court Incumbent–6 yr. Term (16) positions 

There are seventeen (17) candidates for the sixteen (16) positions.  There are five (5) judges in this group of sixteen incumbents whom I consider to be conservative.  They deserve your vote even if you don’t vote for any of the others.  They are:

·         Annette J. Berry

·         Gregory Dean Bill

·         Kathleen M. McCarthy

·         Maria L. Oxholm

·         Daniel P. Ryan

3^rd Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court Non Incumbent – 6 yr. Term (3) positions 

There are six (6) candidates for these three (3) positions.   There are only two of them whom I consider to be conservative.  I would encourage all conservative voters to vote for:

·         Kevin Cox

·         Kelly Ann Ramsey

3^rd Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court Incumbent–Partial Term ending 1/1/2015 (2) positions

There are three (3) candidates for two (2) positions.  Of the two who are incumbents, Margaret M. Van Houten is the only one that I consider to be conservative.

·         Margaret M. Van Houten

How We Think You Should Vote On Proposals

It's almost voting time again. This will be a long ballot so you should get a copy of the ballot before you vote. Go to https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/SelectPublicBallot.aspx   fill out the questions and print a copy of your personal ballot.

If you want to know how the Wayne county Taxpayers Association thinks you should vote on the State and County Proposals go to http://www.wctaxpayers.org to our homepage and click on the two links.

This might be the most important election of our lifetime.  The kind of government we will have will be determined by the results.  Who we elect for president will determine the appointment of possibly 3 judges to the Supreme Court. Those we elect to the legislature both in congress and at the state level will have an incredible effect on our economy, taxes and freedoms.

Please do your homework before you vote.

Wayne County Taxpayers Present Ballot Proposals

Well informed citizens are capable of making good decisions. I invite everyone to The Wayne County Taxpayers Assn. forum on Wednesday, Sept 26, at Leon's Family Dining on Michigan Ave just east of Telegraph. The Mackinac Center for Public policy will present Mike LaFaive, Director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative and Vinnie Vernuccio,Director of Labor Policy to discuss and answer questions on the November ballot proposals.

If you wish to order dinner please come between 6:00 and 6:30 the program will begin promptly at 7:00 pm. The topics will include 5 of the ballot proposals.

• The “Protect Our Jobs” Amendment
• The unionization of home-based caregivers
• The repeal of the emergency manager law
• The “25 by 2025” renewable energy standard, and
• A measure requiring a 2/3 legislative majority before taxes can be raised.

When

Wed. Sept. 26, 6pm – 9pm Eastern Time      

Where

Leon's Family Dining 23830 Michigan Ave. Dearborn just east of Telegraph

Hope to see you there 

Interesting Editorial

Letter to the editor of an upper peninsula friend:

What the devil is happening to our country?  When are we, as Americans, going to wake up?  We have our US Ambassador to Libya and two others killed; we have our flag being burned and a black flag with these words: “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his messenger”, hoisted in its place; we have President Obama turning down a meeting request from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, siting “a full schedule” yet has time to be on David Letterman’s show and campaign in Ohio; we have a massive teachers’ strike in Chicago; not to mention an economy which continues to worsen with our credit rating on the verge of being downgraded again.

The Democratic National Convention was all about abortion and contraceptives.  Let’s bring out Sandra Fluke to give us her take on our international crisis.  How about we all hold hands and sing Kumbaya?  Or, we could take a stronger approach and have the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund or the president of NARAL tell us why these events shouldn’t take precedence over our rights as women to do what we want with our own bodies.  After all, these were highlights of the recent presidential convention and should not be taken lightly.

Well I’m here to tell the DNC, the left-wing liberals, the lamestream media and anyone else who believes this garbage that I hope, beyond hope, that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are elected because if they aren’t, I am scared as hell as to what is going to happen to our country and us as citizens.

We have a President who will not stand up for our beliefs and rights but seems to have no problem apologizing to the world on our behalf.  While we have Americans dying abroad, he appears not to want to intimidate the Arab community.  Realize, I am not singling out the Muslim faith only those radical Islamists who will do everything within their power to overtake America and our Christian beliefs.  These terrorists are getting more of a strangle-hold on the world than we care to acknowledge.  If you think they will go away just because you wish they would, you’re sadly mistaken.  We are being put on notice that these terrorist acts in the name of Allah, aren’t religious acts but acts that are meant to eliminate America. The Sandra Flukes of the world only need to take a close look at how women are treated in those Arab countries to realize all the contraceptives in the world, free or not, aren’t going to make their lives any better.  Fool around, you die; end of story. 

I am sickened to see such blatant lack of backbone by our present administration when it comes to all things important.  Teachers – he’s hanging you out to dry while you continue to support his platform with your union dues and allegiance.   Americans – he’s hanging us out to dry while the Arab world is on a feeding frenzy at our expense. 

WAKE UP!  It will be too late to give this President another four years of “Forward”, whatever that’s supposed to mean.  At this rate, we won’t stand a chance of moving forward as our country, our citizens and our beliefs are being pushed to the back of the bus.  It’s truly a very unsettling time for an election but one can only hope we all come to our senses because if we continue down this same path, there will definitely be no turning back.  Please, please look at what is happening in the world before you vote.  It truly is a matter of life and death; ours.

Diane L. Schabo; Iron Mountain, MI  49801

Beware Truth In Taxation

  


It has been a long time since Truth In Taxation has been used by most government bodies. The conditions under which it is profitable are becoming perfect. So, before you go voting for any more millages, no matter how small, make sure you will be able to pay for them.


In 1978 the Headlee Amendment passed  to limit  the amount of revenue government could collect. It basically limits revenue increases to the CPI (inflation).  If the revenue exceeds that amount, the millage must roll back.


In 1994 Proposal A passed. Unlike Headlee, it was concerned with the taxable value of individual property. It capped annual increases in your taxable value at the CPI (inflation) or 5% whichever is less. Millages are applied against the taxable value.


So while proposal A deals with capping your individual assessment,  the Headlee Amendment regulates government revenue to the rate of inflation and the number of mills that can be levied to reach that revenue.


For years most of our assessment values increased every year beyond the rate of inflation. As a result the Headlee Amendment caused millages to roll back to keep revenue from exceeding the inflationary limit.  Since the bubble our property values have been declining. The amount of revenue,  because of low inflation rates,  caused government bodies to seek  Headlee overides which required them to go to the ballot with their request.


Predictions are that inflation will become very serious after the first of the year.  The drought will cause food prices to rise, trouble in the middle east will force oil and gas prices to rise effecting the trucking and other transportation systems, housing prices are creeping up, early slaughter of cattle because of crop failure and the Federal Reserve will probably increase interest rates. 
All this will be going on while unemployment will still be high and wage increases will almost be unheard of.



MCL211.24e (in part) provides that a local taxing unit could approve and levy a millage rate for operating purposes in excess of the Base Tax Rate (BTR)  after providing a notice of public hearing in a newspaper, establishing the proposed additional millage rate by resolution,
holding the public hearing, and approving the levy of the additional millage rate.


This means that any millage that has been rolled back as a result of Headlee can be increased up to the voted level, or that portion necessary, if inflation determines it can be. That means any millage that was rolled back can be rolled up by a simple hearing by the governing body that can happen almost without you being aware. This might result in multiple increases on every level of government.  Be aware of these hearings - your ability to pay you taxes may depend on it.

So Broke They Can Give It Away

Ray Byers, Wayne County’s chief development officer  should be hiding instead of promoting the millage for the DIA.  While he is traveling all over the world on our money, the DIA continues to be mismanaged. He must think he is still at Ford Motor Company.  The County should take care of its own business first.  Have you read the newspaper lately?

The DIA donated some of their buildings to the  Ferry Street Inn."The Inn was developed by Midtown Detroit, a non-profit planning and economic development agency. The group partnered with the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), which owned the property and had been using some of the old homes for storage." 

Notice they can afford to give their assets away.  It is being run as a non profit. You can bet those running it are making money.  How about running it for a profit and donating the profits to support the arts?

They are still touting the demise of the DIA in spite of the $150 million endowment they have on hand. The admission fees to the general museum are:

• $8 Adult 
• Free for Children 5 and under
• $6 Seniors 
• Free for Detroit residents on Fridays* 
• $4 Youth (6 – 17) 
• Free for Members 
• $5 for College Students (with valid school photo ID)    

These fees can be raised and they have billions of dollars worth of art that can be placed on  tour and others that were just donated for a tax write off that can possibly be sold.

Don't be a fool Vote NO August 7.

Lets Get It Done

There will be many issues that various groups will be attempting to place on the November 2012 ballot.  The Wayne County Taxpayers Association has chosen to actively support two of them. Once again I am asking for your help. We hope that you will help us collect signatures for these proposals to insure that they make it to the ballot.

In 1978 the voters amended Article 9, Section 6, of the State Constitution, and made additions to Article 9, Sections 25 thru 34, to provide for Tax Limitation.” This is most commonly known as the Headlee Amendment.

The people thought by voting for this that there would be no unauthorized tax increases without a vote of the people. However, over the years they have been proven wrong.   Taxpayers, including myself, have been to court numerous times and the outcomes have been inconsistent. Government and the courts seem to have found a way to get around the constitution to the disadvantage of the taxpayer.

We are hoping the proposal on the petition we are circulating in conjunction with the “Michigan Alliance for Prosperity” will finally stop them at the state level. The petition language reads as follows:

“A proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution by adding a Section 26a to Article Nine. No new or additional taxes shall be imposed by the state government, nor shall it expand the base of taxation, nor shall it increase the rate of taxation unless: (a) by the vote of two-thirds of all the elected member of each branch of the Legislature or (b) by a statewide vote of Michigan electors at a November election. This section shall in no way be construed to limit or modify tax limitations otherwise created in this constitution.”

We hope that this will stop the shell game of different taxes at the state levels while still constraining increases within the established limits. This shell game has significant effect and consequences for both business and individual taxpayers. Once a tax has been reduced or eliminated it will no longer be an easy task to create a new one to replace it by a simple majority.

We know that similar provisions in 13 other states have proven successful and that precedent has been established in the Michigan Constitution. Two examples are:

1. 1.    A 2/3 legislative majority was required to assume new debt to pay off debt owed by the Mackinac Bridge Authority.
2. 2.    A ¾ majority is required to raise the education tax

The second proposal is concerning the building and maintaining of any additional international crossings.  The proposal reads as follows:

 “The People should decide whether state government may construct or finance new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles. Consistent with this policy and to shield the people from unnecessary burdens, the state shall not undertake ownership and the development or use of state funds or resources for new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles unless first determined to be necessary and appropriate by majority vote of the people.”

They have indicated that the funding for the project will be paid by the tolls generated. There is no guarantee that the taxpayer will not have to pick up any shortfall for the construction and operation of the bridge proposed by Governor Snyder.  The objection of the legislature and the majority of the people seemed to have little effect on his decision to proceed. Reduction in crossings and state population, in our estimation,  insures the taxpayer will be responsible for the shortfall in revenue.  If we are going to have to pay for it, we should at least have a say in whether it should be built. That goes for any other construction of that magnitude for those purposes.

Placing decisions for such massive projects on the ballot would result in a discussion of both the merits and liabilities of the issue before we commit taxpayer resources.

Please get involved.  Contact me and I will see that you are contacted by the appropriate people and are sent the petitions you need. Please don’t think that someone else will do it.  We need your help. Lansing has gotten out of control.

Rose Bogaert, Chair

Wayne County Taxpayers Association, Inc

wctaxpayers@comcast.net    /   http://www.wctaxpayers.org  /  http://wctaxpayers.blogspot.com     

313-278-8383

Allen Park officials planning to dig their way out of debt by digging a little deeper

by Tim O’Brien, executive director of the Small Government Alliance


By now everyone in Michigan has heard how the city of Allen Park’s plan to go into the movie business and grab a piece of the industry Lansing was luring with generous subsidies turned into a disaster epic.

A smooth-talking Hollywood producer named Jimmy Lifton convinced local officials to borrow $28 million to purchase more than 100 acres of property along Southfield Road which he would then lease from them to create his Unity Studios. There would be sound stages for major motion pictures, studios for TV shows, audio and video editing facilities, and more. Not to mention the hotels, restaurants and all manner of supporting businesses that would serve
them.

And there would be a Lifton Institute to teach the unemployed all these movie-making skills — with tuition paid the “No worker left behind” program.

It was the stuff dreams are made of.

Unfortunately for starry-eyed Allen Park officials, Gov. Granholm’s retraining program was canceled. Gov. Snyder capped the total annual film subsidies at $25 million – well below what a single, major fea-ture might use up. And Jimmy “Hollywood,” having never made a single lease payment, packed up and “got outta Dodge.” It was only then that city officials, who had relied only on their own tax assessor’s estimate of the value of the property, got around to having an inde-pendent appraisal – which put the market value of the real estate and buildings at $18 million.

For Allen Park, already staggering from the same, one-two punch as the rest of her Wayne County sis-ters – a declining tax base and state revenue shar-ing, along with exploding labor and legacy costs – this horror movie was the back-breaking straw.
Last August officials went to residents asking for a Headlee override. It was turned down by a 3-1 margin. So they came back in November with two proposals – 3.5 mills to help with the labor/legacy costs and 2.3 mills for the shortfall resulting from their overpriced, under-producing property leasing business that was only generating enough revenue to cover half of the bond payment.

Voters approved the first but, again, rejected
the second. However, as experience has so fre-quently demonstrated, politicians simply will not take “NO!” for an answer. So it came as no surprise when the new mayor and council (also elected in Novem-ber) announced a special election for May 8 to ask voters for the money to at least get them past this year’s bond payment for the failed movie studio ven-ture.

And hedging their bets in the meantime, they are planning to borrow $1.2 million on their own author-ity via what are called “Tax Anticipation Notes.” The municipal equivalent of those “Payday Advance” loans you see hawked on late night television, the entire amount – plus interest – will be due and pay-able from summer tax receipts. In order to get over that hurdle they plan to go to the State Administra-tive Board for permission to sell Fiscal Stabilization Bonds to pay operating expenses (so obviously imprudent a course of action that it would,
otherwise, be illegal.)
But some residents have had enough.

The Small Government Alliance, an independent, non-partisan PAC based in Allen Park is organizing an effort to block the city from doing any more bor-rowing, noting the (tongue-in-cheek) 1st Rule of Holes: Upon finding yourself in one – STOP
DIGGING!

Bryan Diebolt, another Allen Parker who made news last summer for having gone to the state treasurer to request appointment of an Emergency Manager to straighten out the mess (but was turned down) has joined the effort, now called “Restore Allen Park,” as
the official spokes person.

Justin Mordarki from neighboring Taylor, both a WCTA member and an experienced Tea Party or-ganizer, has also signed on. As have a number of others.
Visit Restore Allen Park on web or Facebook.