BLOGGER'S NOTES

Death by Taxes?                                           September 14, 2023

Here is a list of millages and local taxes you are paying every year:
School, County, Road, Parenting Communities paid for by the Early Childhood
millage, Township, Senior Services, Library, Recycling and possibly Village with
sewage/water. Are we missing any? Oh yes, sales tax and gas tax are local as
well. These taxes would have to be approved by a vote of the people, but how
likely is a millage to be defeated in May of an off cycle election? Given the
number of taxes being levied on Leelanau County residents, how likely is it for
young families to purchase a home and move into Leelanau County? If you are
a renter, you don’t escape paying for millages and property taxes as they are
included in your rent.
The Democrat County Board is currently studying the possibilities of additional
taxes for: child day care, solar and wind power, a juvenile delinquency home
with Traverse City, electric vehicles, and affordable housing, all of which will be
funded by Leelanau County taxpayers if approved. How do you think the Dems
plan to fund these projects? Right now, they’re seeking grant funding. What do
you think will happen when the grants dry up or they do not receive the grant
and believe you “need’’ these government programs? Last year, when the
Democrats took control of the County Board, they immediately raised the county
millage back to the maximum amount after it had been lowered the year before.
In 2022, the new Board of Commissioners (BOC) subcontracted with an
affordable housing guru for $60,000 to “talk” to every township about how they
can accomplish work force housing. This action was taken after our county had
a committee studying affordable housing for the last 20 years. Then, the BOC
voted to add a costly ordinance for septic inspections on home transfers. These
inspections will cost the home owners between $400 to $12,000 depending on
inspection results. What is the impact of these septic inspections on young
families who want to buy property here?
On April 10th, 2023, our county Treasurer reported that the county has
$6,896,736.72 in investments raising over $400,000 in interest so far in 2023.
The county also has currently available cash assets of $5,524,703.00 totaling
over $12.4 million in county cash assets.These cash assets do not include
special funds such as the Building and Safety Reserve Fund, which currently
has over $1 million in emergency funds, and Parenting Community Funds.
The $12.4 million is available to spend before the county even collects 2023
summer taxes.
Both the County Clerk and County Treasurer have stated publicly that county
taxes could be lowered, but the new Chairman has indicated by his vote that
allowing you to keep a few dollars of your own money is not as wise as the
county collecting it and spending it. He and the rest of the Democrats believe it
is much better to add your dollars to the already burgeoning county coffers so
that they can spend your money for you.
Recently Leland, Suttons Bay and Bingham voted in a new millage to support
their local libraries. Previously, the townships had already been collecting
millages that they used to support the libraries. When the library millage vote
passed, Bingham Township reduced their millage by the amount that was
designated for the library. Both Suttons Bay and Leland Townships kept the
additional taxes as a windfall and are now spending these dollars on wage
increases and park facilities such as pickle ball courts and dog runs. How do
these additional taxes help the elderly on fixed incomes? Do you want to keep a
representative in place who believes he or she can spend your money more
wisely than you can?