The Grand Rapids Press 04/08/12 Matt Vande Bunte
“Heartwell urges support for GRCC millage: City Commission to Weogh Endorsing $100 Million Request”
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/04/mayor_heartwell_grand_rapids_c.html
Calling Grand Rapids Community College “a cornerstone of our community for the past 96 years,” Mayor George Heartwell is urging colleagues to pass a resolution of support for a millage that would ensure the school “can continue to serve their growing student population into the next century.”
GRCC next month will ask Kent County voters to accept a 0.35-mill tax hike that would generate almost $100 million over 20 years to fund building maintenance and renovations, as well as technology. Grand Rapids City Commission on Tuesday will consider endorsing the request.
“This is clearly one of the really big issues for Kent County and Grand Rapids, being the host community,” said Heartwell, who last month helped GRCC launch its millage campaign. “They’ve deferred maintenance for far too long on many of these buildings. The need for the millage is unquestioned in my mind. They absolutely need it.”
Voters on May 8 will consider the new tax, which would increase an existing 1.78-mill levy. The hike would add $26.25 per year to the property tax bill for a house valued at $150,000.
“As far as I can tell, everyone (on City Commission) is on board with it,” said First Ward Commissioner Dave Shaffer, a GRCC alum whose sister and parents also attended the school. “I’m in support of it mostly due to the fact that GRCC has been a big part of my life and a lot of other people’s too.
Common Sense Review
Once again King George doesn’t know his place. The mayor and city commission are supposed to represent the people so when the commission seeks to endorse the proposal to raise taxes on the people basically means the residence of Grand Rapids already voted for the tax increase. So if there is no vote then we have a tyranny.
Sounds about right…
Yet 1st wart commissioner Dave Shaffer, endorsed the tax increase because he has family members who attend GRCC but do they live in Grand Rapids and will have to incur the tax increase… Gee that is missing from the article….
Now for a business that owns it’s buildings and property, they are have to budget in maintenance and repairs. Yet when you have access to the tax payer’s dollars, why would you feel to have to budget for maintenance and repairs. What an idea!
Maybe it is times to force school and university to live within their means, instead of teaching the students how to beg.
According to the above..."The hike would add $26.25 per year to the property tax bill for a house valued at $150,000." How many $25 increases can the average homeowner take before they are taxed out of their house? The Rapid vote would only add $25, the "temporary for 5 years" tax would only at $25. Every millage seems to add a bit here, a bit there. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!! If you have a budget, live within it or increase the building maintenance amount. Don't make the school look pretty on the backs of the tax payers.
ReplyDeleteYou are right... we have a such a high rental rate that those who vote "yes" think they don't have to pay because they rent. However no smart landlord is going to pay. They raise the rent and the renter thinks their landlord is a jerk...
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