ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
I hope it’s not too late for recommendations on ballot proposals that will face voters in the Nov. 3 general election. It is too late for those who already have cast their ballots via the mail.
Because newspapers have a long tradition of endorsing candidates or recommendations proposals, I want to keep in step with this rich history.
Though some may question why I should weigh in on political issues before an election, I don’t want to break with tradition. It’s what newspapers do, for better or worse.
I can save readers a lot of time at this juncture by acknowledging that I support every proposal they will see on their absentee ballot or at the polls. The reason is very simple: I hold a firm belief that taxes are necessary evils for civilization to continue.
For example, I can’t afford to hire a cop or firefighter to watch over and protect my home, but I can join with neighbors and fellow citizens to chip into the kitty to fund a police or fire departments to do those jobs.
There are occasions when I believe a tax request is frivolous or wrong-headed. When I see such instances, I will say so.
Therefore, I recommend a “yes” vote for all of these requests:
- “A proposed constitutional amendment to allow money from oil and gas mining on state-owned lands to continue to be collected in state funds for land protection and creation and maintenance of parks, nature areas, and public recreation facilities; and to describe how money in those state funds can be spent
“This proposed constitutional amendment would:
- Allow the State Parks Endowment Fund to continue receiving money from sales of oil and gas from state-owned lands to improve, maintain and purchase land for State parks, and for Fund administration, until its balance reaches $800,000,000.
- Require subsequent oil and gas revenue from state-owned lands to go into the Natural Resources Trust Fund.
- Require at least 20% of Endowment Fund annual spending go toward State park improvement.
- Require at least 25% of Trust Fund annual spending go toward parks and public recreation areas and at least 25% toward land conservation.”
- “A proposed constitutional amendment to require a search warrant in order to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications This proposed constitutional amendment would:
- Prohibit unreasonable searches or seizures of a person’s electronic data and electronic
- Require a search warrant to access a person’s electronic data or electronic communications, under the same conditions currently required for the government to obtain a search warrant to search a person’s house or seize a person’s things.”
- Allegan County Proposal — “Establishing Separate Tax Limitations for Allegan County, The Townships, and the Intermediate School District
Shall separate tax limitations be established for an indefinite period, or until altered by the voters of the county, for the County of Allegan and the townships and the intermediate school district within the county, the aggregate of which shall not exceed 6.91 mills.”
- Hopkins Township — Dust Control Millage: “Shall Hopkins Township impose an increase of up to 0.35 mills ($0.35 per $1,000 of taxable value) in the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution and levy it for 6 years, 2020 through 2025 inclusive, on all taxable real and personal property in the Township, for the purpose of providing dust control on public gravel roads within Hopkins Township, which 0.35 mills increase will raise an estimated $34,000 in the first year the millage is levied?”
- Leighton Township — Road Millage Proposal: “Shall Leighton Township levy a new additional millage of 1 mill ($1.00 per $1,000 of taxable value) on taxable property within the Township of Leighton for five (5) years, 2020 through 2024, inclusive, for the purpose of providing funds for public road improvement and maintenance?”
If approved and levied, this millage would raise an estimated $269,500.00 in the first year of the levy. All or a portion of the revenues from this millage will be disbursed to the Allegan County Road Commission or other governmental agency for public road improvement and maintenance within Leighton Township.”
