Week in Review: Millage Wars
"We’re almost double-paying."
Week in Review
Millages on the August 6 Ballot, in Sum
Our August 2024 Primary Coverage so far:
Incumbent grades for County Commissioners and City Councilmen.
Our preview of County Commissioner and City Council primary races.
This week we take a final look at the millage proposals on the ballot and attempt to give you the relevant information so often hidden away by ballot language. See the proposal language here and here, and your property tax breakdown here.
Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility [Snack Bar, Therapy, & Beauty Salon] Millage
Annual tax increase for $150,000 of taxable value: $90/year for six years; $540 total.
Other funding sources for the organization: This organization gets 95 percent of its funding through your state and federal taxes. It also makes additional money in exchange for provided services.
History: This millage was renewed in 2018.
Editors’ recommendation: No. We oppose government healthcare programs as such, but we oppose them doubly when said programs already receive $19 million of their $20 million from your state and federal taxes.
Public Safety Communications [Latest Technology > Law] Millage
Annual tax increase for $150,000 of taxable value: $150/year for ten years; $1,500 total.
Other funding sources for the organization: The County Commissioners are pursuing a grant that would offset much of the cost of such an acquisition.
History: In 2022, this millage failed handily in an attempt to raise $11 million. Finding this decision to be retrogressive, our rulers are back—this time with scary videos—to try to frighten you into going for their $16 million radio system while hundreds of drug-related warrants go unserved.
Editors’ recommendation: No. The sum is massive, the County may have alternative funding sources, and there are other, far more urgent public safety priorities. (A jail, so that laws can be enforced.)
Emergency Vehicle [Free Ambulance Ride] Millage
Annual tax increase for $150,000 of taxable value: $150/year for six years; $900 total.
Other funding sources for the organization: The County currently offers free ambulance rides. This millage would pay for those free ambulance rides. Rejecting this millage would mean that ambulance users would have to pay for ambulance rides. Rejecting this millage would not mean the end of ambulances in Hillsdale County. There would still be ambulances.
History: This millage was first levied in 2012, and was renewed in 2018. Ask yourself, Did ambulances exist in Hillsdale County prior to 2012?
Editors’ recommendation: No. The ambulance rides should be paid for by those who take ambulance rides.
In conclusion, the hypothetical property owner above would pay the county $390 extra per year or $2,940 total if all three proposals pass. It’s very simple: vote them all down.
County Commissioners, Tuesday, July 9
Wiley Absent, Benzing acting as Chair.
“Conservatives” Justifying Higher Taxes
During public comment, Reading Emergency Unit Executive Director Keith O’Neil and Councilman Rob Socha spoke in favor of the emergency radio millage during public comment.
Bob Eichler, candidate for Road Commission, wondered aloud how the Wileys and Benzings of the world remain in power: “Absolute tragedy. Losing a gentleman . . . we gotta do something better than allowing the accommodation of meth contributing to other people’s demise . . . his catch and release system.”
Medical Care
Terry Esterline, Administrator of Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility, gave a very lengthy annual report and argued in favor of the millage renewal. He said the money from the millage goes to offset two taxes that are being levied against the facility by the State of Michigan.
The state will charge you a tax, and then the state will reimburse a portion of that tax the next year to the facility; we’re operating on a per diem rate based on the previous year’s expenses. Out of that $822,000 tax, the facility receives back $373,000 in revenue. . . . So if you combine the MOE and the Provider tax, the facility was taxed $984,635. That’s what the facility uses our millage for. It’s to offset that tax that’s assessed on the facility.
Because Medical Care cannot pay its (admittedly onerous) state taxes, the citizens of Hillsdale County are expected to pick up the slack by paying additional taxes.
Materials Management
Ingles and Wiley had a Zoom meeting with St. Joe’s and Branch Counties, as well as Eagle, about a potential multi-county materials management plan (Hillsdale County filed an extension until August 31 to submit its letter of intent). St. Joe’s and Branch have a letter of agreement to work together, but the St. Joe’s administrator was hestitant to add Hillsdale County to their multi-county plan. Further discussions will be had.
MTA
Doug Ingles, Brent Leininger, and Steve Lanius all raised concerns about the $2500 price tag of the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) membership for the county (in addition to the price that each township pays to MTA). But the group talked itself into the value provided by MTA membership and approved another year of full membership by a vote of 3-1 (with Lanius opposed).
Closed Meeting?
Leininger motioned to go into closed session pursuant to MCL 15.268 sec. 8(h) for the reason of Attorney Client Privilege. According to the meeting minutes, this motion was voted down 2-2, with Lanius and Ingles against.
[A special closed session was held two days later at which Wiley was present, but not Lanius.]
Pay Up!
During the second public comment period, Kelley Mapes objected to tax increases and then questioned the commissioners’ unwillingness to address the jail problem:
We already pay some agencies appropriated money, and now on top of that we’re going to pay millages. As a citizen, we’re almost double-paying these people. I want to read a citizen’s comment: “I will vote no on the proposals. Businesses will not close down if proposals don’t pass, they simply won’t have the massive cushion our extra taxes provide. They’ll have to learn to manage their money exactly, as we’ve had to learn to manage ours a citizens.” . . . I question after what happened the last couple weeks, do we need a new jail? I think we need at the possibility of that over these other projects.
In his closing comments, Leininger revealed that the members of the Commission to are avid readers of HCR, and went on to offer a positive spin on the millages that are up for a vote on August 6th.1
According to a Leininger, citizens should pay up because two of the three millages are merely “renewals” requiring only a slight increase in taxes from 2024 to 2025, certainly for properties at or below the average home value in Hillsdale County.
This is true enough—we have grown accustomed to high taxes. If we once again approve these millages, we will pay similar (but slightly increased) taxes in 2025. We as a County can continue to vote for high taxes for ourselves by approving these unnecessary millages, or we can vote ourselves a substantial tax cut.
Over the lifetime of the millages—regardless of whether your taxable home value is $50,000 or $150,000—approving all three millages is approving significantly higher taxes for you and your family for years to come.
Upcoming Events
City Council, Monday, July 15
Revoke IFE Certificate 2017-181: Corecoyle Composites, LLC, for 221 Industrial Drive (129)
In an amazing turn of events, it seems that Corecoyle refused to allow the City Councilmen into the building for the promised tour, despite the fact that the City Council has effectually made Corecoyle into a city investment. The tour was also a favor granted by Council to give Corecoyle one final shot to prove itself. Behold, the fruits of municipal government using your cash to prop up private businesses! Now would be a great time for the Council to return to its usual posture of slavishness to the City Manager.
Proposal to Purchase City Property – 49 Union Street (250)
A private citizen would like to purchase 49 Union, a lot just larger than one acre, from the city for $30,000.
Homeless Taskforce Recommendation Follow-up (257)
Councilman Stuchell would like Council to discuss the Homeless Task Force report at greater length, with input from Police Chief Scott Hephner.
I would like to request for Chief to report to council, giving council his professional assessment related to these drug houses within the city and explain the police department tactics to remove these drug house out of the city.
Hillsdale is experiencing strong investments into our small town. Nothing will deter these investments faster than a criminalized homeless population going unchecked. If there is some misleading data within the taskforce’s report then Chief can clarify those misunderstanding. We do owe it to hard work the homeless taskforce as done. . . My request is to have this topic on the next City Council’s meeting agenda with continuous follow-ups from Chief has he eliminates the homeless criminalization side the city homeless issue.
External Links
“Traverse City is changing.” Michigan Enjoyer.
“Springfield’s Haitian population has increased 15 to 20,000 over the last four years in a community of under 60,000 previous residents, putting a significant strain on our resources and ability to provide ample housing for all of our residents.” J.D. Vance.
“I am firmly committed to staying in this race.” President Biden.
“We are beginning to see Russia target specific voter demographics, promote divisive narratives and denigrate specific politicians.” The Intelligence Community.
“Donald Trump is the pragmatic leader here.” J.D. Vance on his support for the abortion pill mifepristone and, presumably, the changes to the Republican Party Platform.2
“Rupert Murdoch has launched a full-scale lobbying effort to get Donald Trump to pick North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.” Notus.
“Are American elites capable of seeing beyond their own preferences?” Oren Cass.
“I almost love her like a person.” The robot companion, ElliQ.
“One of the most common midwit tropes is that ‘politics is the art of the possible.’” Adrian Vermeule.
“The critical axiom isn’t no enemies to the right, but no friends to the left: that is, no political friendship with what the contemporary Left represents: self-delusion, self-pity, guilt, resentment, and fear.” Daniel Miller.
We do thank the Commissioners for their continued support. Perhaps a millage to keep us going is in the offing.
Worthwhile commentary from W. James Antle, Mike Sabo, Michael Brendan Dougherty, Robert George, and Ed Feser.