Costly and Unwise Vote No November 8, 2016

 Mass Transit Tax

·      A Massive Tax Increase.

Ø  What you already pay for existing mass transit in SE MI:

o   $100 per $100,000 of taxable value on your home and business.

o   Ten percent of what you pay at the pump in current gas taxes.

o   Ten percent of your car's annual vehicle registration fee.

o   The mass transit taxes you already pay could buy every regular user of mass transit in metro-Detroit a brand new Ford Focus every three years - and still have $XXX left over.

Ø  What you WILL pay for mass transit under the ballot proposal:

o   $120 more per $100,000 of taxable value on your home and business every year for 20 years.

o   $2,500 per $100,000 of taxable home value over the duration of the tax.

o   The plan authorizes the mass transit authority to initiate an additional 25% increase in your existing annual vehicle registration fee.

o   The proposal will take $4.7 billion out of taxpayer incomes - enough to provide every regular user of mass transit in metro-Detroit with a brand new leased Cadillac every three years.

 ·      More Traffic Congestion:

Ø  Major roads will have lanes closed to create 'bus only' lanes - congesting traffic.

Ø  Cities with bus only lanes also implement priority traffic signal policies that turn  stop lights green for approaching buses and red for cross traffic - further  delaying motorists

·      Blocks Mass Transit Innovation

Ø  The proposal spends hundreds of millions on old transit technology like buses and rail while other cities are contracting out transit services to Uber; Lyft, Chariot and others that provide door-to-door service at substantial savings.

Ø  Advances in self driving vehicles may provide breakthroughs in personalized, cost-effective transit service that cannot be realized if our region is financially locked for decades into a dinosaur mass transit system.

Wayne RESA Millage

     To get the particulars on this nightmare you should go to The Wayne County Taxpayers Association website.  www.wctaxpayers.org and scroll the presentation on why you should vote NO. It was presented to us by a Northville School Board member but the information can be used by all of us.

      The passage of Proposal A which changed the way we finance school only allows  up to a  three mil increase and only if voted by the entire county intermediate district.

Time to Use Our Strenth

I need to ask you a favor. Please contact your legislators and the Local government committees of the house and senate about the below information. They are being held hostage by local government lobbyists. they can not get the votes to move them because local government lobbyist have testified against the right of Michigan taxpayers to vote before having their taxes raised.

We need to know who they represent, the lobbyists or us.

In the summer of 2015 Wayne County placed a judgment of $39 million on our summer taxes. Inkster placed several million dollars worth of taxes on Inkster taxes. This kind of thing goes on all over the state. Their authority they say comes from PA 236 which allows them to place judgment directly on our tax bills without a vote of the people.

We believe that this is a violation of the Headlee Amendment which is part of Article IX of the State Constitution which was passed by the voters in 1978. It requires that increases in taxes require a vote of the people. We requested the help of the legislature to change PA 236. As a result we received a response from Senator David Knezek (D) who informed us that he has requested the legal council and legislative analysts to design a bill that will prohibit the placing of these judgments on our tax bills. We never heard from him again in spite of our attempts to contact him.

The Senate bills SB630 and SB 631 introduced by Senator Shirkey now resides in the Senate local government committee and HB 5150 introduced by Rep. Poleski and 5159 introduced by Reps. Yonker, Price and Garcia has been introduced in the House and are now in the House local government committee. These bills will bring judgments in line with the State Constitution.

Senate Committee Clerk | 517-373-5323

House Committee Clerk | 517-373-5323

House and Senate

http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,4669,7-192-29701---,00.html

Please contact them and request that these bills be moved for a vote. Ask your friends to do the same. When contact your elected officials to vote in favor of their passage so they know it exists when it comes to the floor.

In the summer of 2015 Wayne County placed a judgment of $39 million on our summer taxes.  Inkster placed several million dollars worth of taxes on Inkster taxes.  This kind of thing goes on all over the state.  Their authority they say comes from PA 236 which allows them to place judgment directly on our tax bills without a vote of the people.

We believe that this is a violation of the Headlee Amendment which is part of Article IX of the State Constitution which was passed by the voters in 1978.  It requires that increases in taxes require a vote of the people.  We requested the help of the legislature to change PA 236.  As a result we received a response from Senator David Knezek (D) who informed us that he has requested the legal council and legislative analysts to design a bill that will prohibit the placing of these judgments on our tax bills. We never heard from him again in spite of our attempts to contact him.

The Senate bills SB630 and SB 631 introduced by Senator Shirkey now resides in the Senate local government committee and  HB 5150 introduced by Rep. Poleski and 5159 introduced by Reps. Yonker, Price and Garcia has been introduced in the House and are now in the House local government    committee.  These bills will bring judgments in line with the State Constitution.

Senate Committee Clerk | 517-373-5323

House Committee Clerk | 517-373-5323

Please contact them and request that these bills be moved for a vote. Ask your friends to do the same. When they are moved to the floor contact your elected officials to vote in favor of their passage.

by Joe Lehman's Facebook

Republican lawmakers apparently learned nothing from Michigan's "lost decade." Cutting hundreds of corporate welfare deals did not prevent the loss of nearly a million jobs but they did cost less well connected taxpayers at least $9 billion while things like road repair languished.

Now Republicans are leading the charge to essentially bribe a business to set up shop here, leaving every other taxpayer on the hook for the cost of the tax-break "bribe." You can bet they'll line up for photos at the corporate ribbon cutting ceremony but be very shy about discussing the precise details of the secret tax deal, especially when it fails to live up to their promises as such deals usually do.

Corporate welfare doesn't work, it isn't fair, and it's not the job of government to pick winners and losers. It's unseemly.

Headlee Abused Again

From: "David Lonier" <davidlonier@gmail.com>

Subject: Authority not granted to raise taxes/fees to fix roads!

Date: November 5, 2015 at 10:50:17 AM EST

To: "David Lonier" <davidlonier@gmail.com>

To anyone who has the tiniest grasp of the English language and the concept of self-rule…

This was sent to all State Senators who actually had the nerve…  

A similar notice was sent to all State Reps prior to their actually voting to increase a tax on gasoline and vehicle registration fees…can you believe that?

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/budget/CAFR_FY_2014_478784_7.pdf

Dear State Senator,

To increase the gas tax AFTER VOTER DISAPPROVAL, is a blatant disregard of lawmakers’ oath to uphold the constitution.

The Headlee Amendment was passed by the people of Michigan to ensure that there would be no tax increases without their approval.

Where in Article IX of the Michigan State Constitution does it say that the State Legislature can pass a tax increase without voter approval or with an over 80% voter disapproval (Prop. 1) or by a 2/3rds vote of the Lawmakers?

        Guess what?  It doesn’t!

    Any Bill to increase taxes without voter approval has no force of law!

                             It’s in direct contravention of our State Constitution!

      Can you read?  Can you comprehend?

↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

Text of Section 25: Voter Approval of Increased Local Taxes; Prohibitions; Emergency Conditions; Repayment of Bonded Indebtedness Guaranteed; Implementation of Section Property taxes and other local taxes and state taxation and spending may not be increasedabove the limitations specified herein without direct voter approval. The state is prohibited from requiring any new or expanded activities by local governments without full state financing, from reducing the proportion of state spending in the form of aid to local governments, or from shifting the tax burden to local government. A provision for emergency conditions is established and the repayment of voter approved bonded indebtedness is guaranteed. Implementation of this section is specified in Sections 26 through 34, inclusive, of this Article.[1]

For clarification as to where the funds will come from, and the law prohibiting excess surplus, see below for verification:

Re: Section 26 below…

There is currently well over $20 Billion above the tax limitation, all but 1% of which belongs in the taxpayers’ bank accounts.

Actually far more if one considers the sixty thousand million dollar ($60  Billion +) astronomical State pension fund.

For government to amass this amount of taxpayers’ money is unconstitutional and beyond plunder!

Article IX:

	Text of Section 26: Limitation on Taxes; Revenue Limit; Refunding or Transferring Excess Revenues; Exceptions to Revenue Limitation; Adjustment of State Revenue and Spending Limits There is hereby established a limit on the total amount of taxes which may be imposed by the legislature in any fiscal year on the taxpayers of this state. This limit shall not be changed without approval of the majority of the qualified electors voting thereon, as provided for in Article 12 of the Constitution. Effective with fiscal year 1979-1980, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the legislature shall not impose taxes of any kind which, together with all other revenues of the state, federal aid excluded, exceed the revenue limit established in this section. The revenue limit shall be equal to the product of the ratio of Total State Revenues in fiscal year 1978-79 divided by the Personal Income of Michigan in calendar year 1977 multiplied by the Personal Income of Michigan in either the prior calendar year or the average of Personal Income of Michigan in the previous three calendar years, whichever is greater. For any fiscal year in the event that Total State Revenues exceed the revenue limit established in this section by 1% or more, the excess revenues shall be refunded pro rata based on the liability reported on the Michigan income tax and single business tax (or its successor tax or taxes) annual returns filed following the close of such fiscal year. If the excess is less than 1%, this excess may be transferred to the State Budget Stabilization Fund. The revenue limitation established in this section shall not apply to taxes imposed for the payment of principal and interest on bonds, approved by the voters and authorized under Section 15 of this Article, and loans to school districts authorized under Section 16 of this Article. If responsibility for funding a program or programs is transferred from one level of government to another, as a consequence of constitutional amendment, the state revenue and spending limits may be adjusted to accommodate such change, provided that the total revenue authorized for collection by both state and local governments does not exceed that amount which would have been authorized without such change.[1]

And so where is the money going to come from to fix the roads???????

The State is allowed to retain no more than 1% surplus above its spending in any given fiscal year….

On Page 23 of the 2014 CAFR find Governmental Funds:

Read as follows:

Most of the State's basic services are reported in the governmental funds, which focus on how money 

flows into and out of those funds and the balances left at year-end that are available for future spending. The governmental fund 

financial statements provide a detailed short term view of the State's general government operations and the basic services it 

provides. Governmental fund information helps determine whether there are more or fewer financial resources that can be spent 

in the near future to finance the State's programs. These funds are reported using modified accrual accounting, which measures 

cash and all other financial assets that can readily be converted to cash. Governmental funds include the General Fund and 

special revenue, capital project, debt service, and permanent funds. 

Governmental Fund balance is $5.77 Billion

To verify go here:  $5.77 Billion, See CAFR pgs 23 & 38

Budget Stabilization Fund is $497 Million

To verify: $497 Million, See CAFR, pg. 9 & 69

Total cash available for spending:  Governmental + Budget Stabilization = $6.227 Billion

All that’s necessary to fix the problem and the roads is for government to obey the CONSTITUTION!

And beyond the above cash that’s readily available to fix the roads…take a good look at this:

            1. Repeal the Prevailing Wage Act: $400 Million

            2. Repeal the counterproductive MEDC:  $ Billions wasted on corporate welfare

            3. Bring benefits paid to state workers in line with the private sector:  $5.7 Billion

            4. Drop any thoughts of Michigan taxpayers footing any portion of the totally unnecessary 

                $5.3 Billion International Bridge

            5. Use the “unrestricted” surplus in the CAFR/Governmental/Rainy Day/Budget Stabilization Fund:  

                $5.77 Billion, See CAFR pgs 23 & 38

            6. There are $ billions in the Catastrophic Claims Fund that are being used for nothing!

            7. Use the money from the nearly $2 billion increase in state revenue that’s expected from FY 2015-2017.  See attachment

            8. Roads?  Or a new $130 million senate office building so senators can have better view of the capitol????

                Click on the links & see attachment to verify! 

To tax the people AFTER the people have said NO… 

Is telling the taxpayers that the tax-takers have assumed the role of tyrants with total disregard for the will of the people!

You all should hang your heads in shame for even considering such unethical behavior.  

Courtesy of David Lonier

2014 Nominee, State House, 29^th District

1842 Commonwealth

Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326

248-373-9111

Please Remember to Vote May 5

These are  the proposals that will be voted on in Wayne County. A no vote is particularly necessary for taxpayers for the State Proposal and those of Lincoln Park and City of Wayne.

Page 1 OFFICIAL LIST OF PROPOSALS 05/05/2015 – MAY CONSOLIDATED WAYNE COUNTY

STATE PROPOSAL

PROPOSAL 15-1

A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads.

• Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF).

• Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities.

• Give effect to laws, including those that:

o Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment.

o Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes.

o Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects.

o Increase earned income tax credit.

Should this proposal be adopted?

Page 2 OFFICIAL LIST OF PROPOSALS 05/05/2015 – MAY CONSOLIDATED WAYNE COUNTY

CITY OF LINCOLN PARK PROPOSALS

CITY OF LINCOLN PARK POLICE OFFICERS AND FIRE FIGHTERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM PROPOSAL

Shall the City of Lincoln Park, County of Wayne, Michigan, be authorized to establish a retirement system for the benefit of police officers and fire fighters, create a pension board, and levy taxes annually in amounts sufficient to fund the system, all in accordance with the provisions of Michigan Public Act 345 of 1937, as amended? This proposal shall not become effective unless the electors also approve an amendment to Chapter XVII of the City Charter authorizing cessation of the existing pension system and transfer of its assets to the new Act 345 pension system.

PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT SECTION 1 OF CHAPTER XVII OF THE CITY OF LINCOLN PARK

Shall Sec. 1 of Chapter XVII of the City Charter of the City of Lincoln Park be amended to provide for the transfer of all assets of the existing Policemen’s and Firemen’s Retirement system to a new retirement system established pursuant to Michigan Public Act 345 of 1937, as amended, the cessation of the existing retirement system, and dissolution of the existing retirement board? This amendment shall not become effective unless the electors also approve of the establishment of a new Act 345 pension system.

CITY OF WAYNE PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL NO. 1

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 19.1 AND 19.3 OF CHAPTER 19 OF THE WAYNE CITY CHARTER

Shall Chapter 19 of the Charter of the City of Wayne be amended so that police officers and firefighters are excluded from the retirement system established by the City Charter, effective with the 2015-2016 fiscal year, and instead become members of a separate retirement system under 1937 PA 345, as amended, and that accumulated contributions to the current employee's retirement system made by or on behalf of such officers be transferred to the Act 345 retirement system? This charter amendment shall not be effective unless the electors approve the establishment of a separate retirement system under said Act 345.

PROPOSAL NO. 2

PROPOSAL TO ADOPT AN ACT 345 RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS

Shall the City of Wayne, Wayne County, Michigan, be authorized to establish a separate retirement system pursuant to Act 345 of 1937, as amended, for the benefit of police officers and firefighters employed by the City, create a board of trustees to manage and operate the system, and be authorized to levy a new tax annually in an amount sufficient to fund the system in an actuarially sound manner, but not to exceed 3.00 mills in any year on each dollar ($3.00 per $1,000) of the taxable value of all property in the City, for a period of 5 years, all contingent upon the approval by the electors of a City Charter amendment authorizing the transfer of police officer and firefighter members from the current employee's retirement system to the new system created under Act 345?

It is expected that approximately 3 mills will be levied in 2015 and will raise the sum of approximately

$1,068,000.00.

Page 3 OFFICIAL LIST OF PROPOSALS 05/05/2015 – MAY CONSOLIDATED WAYNE COUNTY

GROSSE ILE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS PROPOSALS

GROSSE ILE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS

BOND PROPOSAL

Shall the Grosse Ile Township Schools, County of Wayne, Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Seven Million Four Hundred Thirty-Five Thousand Dollars ($7,435,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of:

· equipping, furnishing, reequipping and refurnishing School District buildings and acquiring buses;

· acquiring and installing technology infrastructure and equipment; and

· improving and developing sites, including playgrounds, structures and outdoor athletic facilities?

The estimated millage to be levied in 2015 to service this issue of bonds is 0.51 mills ($0.51 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds of this issue is 1.69 mills ($1.69 per $1,000 of taxable value). The debt millage levy is currently estimated to be 5.69 mills, or .2528 mill over the 2014 levy. The bonds shall be payable in not to exceed ten (10) years from the date of issue. The School District currently has $20,020,000 of qualified bonds outstanding and $0 of qualified loans outstanding under the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program. The School District does not expect to borrow from the program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

Under State law, bond proceeds may not be used to pay teacher, administrator or other employee salaries, routine maintenance costs or other School District operating expenses.

GROSSE ILE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS

SINKING FUND REPLACEMENT PROPOSAL

This proposal would replace the existing operating millage authority of the Grosse Ile Township Schools approved by voters in 2010 and which would otherwise expire with the 2015 levy to levy a sinking fund millage.

As a replacement of existing authorization which would otherwise expire with the 2015 levy, shall the Grosse Ile Township Schools, County of Wayne, Michigan, be authorized to levy 0.75 mill ($0.75 per $1,000 of taxable valuation) to create a sinking fund for the purpose of the construction or repair of school buildings and the improvement and development of sites, including the replacement of interior doors and hardware, the replacement of lighting with energy efficient LED lighting, brick work repairs and any other purpose permitted by law, by increasing the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the School District for a period of five (5) years, being the years 2015 to 2019, inclusive? It is estimated that 0.75 mill ($0.75 per $1,000 of taxable valuation) would raise approximately $ 427,064 in the first year that it is levied.

(Under state law, sinking fund proceeds may not be used to pay teacher or administrator salaries.)

Page 4 OFFICIAL LIST OF PROPOSALS 05/05/2015 – MAY CONSOLIDATED WAYNE COUNTY

NORTHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPOSAL

MILLAGE RENEWAL PROPOSAL

BUILDING AND SITE SINKING FUND TAX LEVY

Shall the currently authorized millage rate of .9978 mill ($.9978 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) which may be assessed against all property in Northville Public Schools, Wayne, Oakland and Washtenaw Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2016 to 2020, inclusive, to continue to provide for a sinking fund for the construction or repair of school buildings and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2016 is approximately $2,588,047 (this is a renewal of millage which will expire with the 2015 tax levy)?

RIVERVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROPOSALS

I. SCHOOL BONDING PROPOSAL

Shall Riverview Community School District, Wayne County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Nineteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($19,900,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping school facilities; erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to the high school, in part, for cafeteria, kitchen and office spaces; acquiring, installing and equipping instructional technology for school facilities; constructing and equipping a pre-school playground; and developing and improving sites?

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2015, under current law, is 3.38 mills ($3.38 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a net increase of 2.80 mills. The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 5.28 mills ($5.28 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

The school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $1,665,921 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $451,099. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 30 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7.00 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $5,605,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is approximately $-0-.

(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

Page 5 OFFICIAL LIST OF PROPOSALS 05/05/2015 – MAY CONSOLIDATED WAYNE COUNTY

RIVERVIEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROPOSALS (cont’d)

II. SCHOOL BONDING PROPOSAL

Shall Riverview Community School District, Wayne County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Four Million Seven Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($4,730,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:

erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to and partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, equipping and re-equipping the middle school for swimming pool improvements; remodeling, furnishing and equipping the high school pool area into a new multi-purpose use; acquiring, installing and equipping technology for the middle school swimming pool; and developing and improving sites?

The following is for informational purposes only:

The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2015, under current law, is .79 mill ($0.79 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is thirty (30) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.18 mills ($1.18 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).

The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $5,605,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $-0-. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

If both Proposal I and Proposal II pass, the school district expects to borrow from the State School Bond Qualification and Loan Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated total principal amount of that borrowing is $2,600,482 and the estimated total interest to be paid thereon is $2,723,190. The estimated duration of the millage levy associated with that borrowing is 30 years and the estimated computed millage rate for such levy is 7.55 mills. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.

(Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

VAN BUREN PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPOSAL

MILLAGEPROPOSAL

BUILDING AND SITE SINKING FUND TAX LEVY

Shall Van Buren Public Schools, Counties of Wayne and Washtenaw, State of Michigan, create a sinking fund for the purpose of construction or repair of school buildings and the improvement and development of sites and for any other purpose which may be authorized by law, and be authorized to levy not to exceed 1.13 mills ($1.13 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of seven (7) years, 2016 to 2022 inclusive? This levy would renew the sinking fund levy previously authorized by the voters in 2008 for an additional seven (7) years. It is estimated that the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in the 2016 calendar year shall be approximately

$1,715,961 from the local taxes authorized in this proposal. A portion of the revenue collected may be subject to capture by the Van Buren Township Downtown Development Authority.

NO! NO! NO! to the Sales Tax Increase

Legislative Tax Action Day

Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 pm

Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan

Mark your calendars. You can go to either or both of these events. At least

try to make it to one. Pass this on to others in your address book.

Protest against Proposal 1 in front of Troy City Hall

Wednesday, April 15 at 5:00 pm

City of Troy, Michigan Government in Troy, Michigan

I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of being talked to like I am a child.  There really are a lot of people out there who are gullible, but I would like to think that I am not one of them. Those of us who know better have an obligation to share with those less informed. Not as a test of our superior intellect, because we all have our short comings, but because if they go down we go down with them.  

How people can have faith in their elected officials after they have lied to them over and over again Is beyond my understanding. No matter how good something looks, you need to have a look at what the other side has to say. It is especially important if their are a lot of commercials for one side or the other. Lots of commercials is an indication of how important the issue is and a clue that the results will definitely effect you.

++++++++++++++

 7 Reasons to Vote “NO” on the May 5 Tax Hike Proposal 

1.We can't afford even higher taxes. Michigan residents already pay among the highest gas taxes in the country, and most of that money isn't even spent on roads. We pay a 4.25% state income tax where other states have no income tax. The ballot proposal would raise the Michigan sales tax to 7%, whichwould make it the 2nd highest state sales tax in the nation. The proposal would raise taxes about $200 per year for every man, woman, and child in Michigan. $800 for a family of four. 

2. It doesn't solve the budget problem. Lawmakers increased Michigan's state budget by $4.7 billion in just the last four years. The sales tax hike is only projected to take in $2 billion. Raising the sales tax only pays for part of the growth of government! The problem is too much new spending, not too little taxes. If voters approve these tax increases, soon enough we'll be asked for even more.

 3. We can fix our roads and fund our schools without raising taxes. The state House passed a plan last December that would have increased public school funding $2.5 billion over the next eight years and added about $1 billion in road funding each year – with no net tax increase. 

4. Half of the new tax money isn't even for roads. The proposal's backers insist Michigan's roads need to be fixed, but only half of the new tax money would be spent on roads. The rest goes to various special interests that benefit from the new tax money. (Source: michigantaxpayers.com/ newtaxes.php) 

5. Raising prices makes Michigan less competitive. Raising the sales tax effectively makes all goods more expensive: we all inevitably have less money to spend and save. Essentially, it increases the cost of living in Michigan – people need to earn more to live here – and this affects costs at all stages of production, distribution, sales, and service. Higher taxes hurt us all. 

6. The proposal misleads voters and does a lot more than tax and spend. The proposal passes ten laws and a constitutional amendment, with language totaling over 46,000 words: a novel's worth of legalese. These laws include tax credits for low-income wage earners, affirmative action rules in certain state transportation contracting, funding for reading programs, $102 million in new federal income tax liabilities for vehicle registration, and much, much more not reported on the ballot to voters. 

7. Make Lansing do its job. It's wrong for lawmakers to punt to voters a 46 thousand-word legislative package, kicking off a massive political battle and costing us a $10 million election, because lawmakers couldn't agree on a solution to fund roads. Road funding should be a normal, ordinary, completely standard aspect of budget negotiations. 

Vote “NO” to tax hikes on May 5 because Michigan is T AXED E NOUGH A LREADY

Concerned Taxpayers of Michigan, PO Box 211, Milan MI 48160. Permission to reproduce