"I am committed to improving our roads, fighting higher taxes, supporting public safety and eliminating wasteful spending. We must have accountability and transparency to you, our hard-working taxpayers!"
LIST OF ISSUES
ROADS
There are two main issues with the road taxes for Washtenaw County. The County Commissioners for the past two years have levied a 0.5-mill road tax without the voters approval which the county is being sued for now. Since this lawsuit the County Commissioners voted to place this issue on the November ballot a four-year 0.5-mill countywide road tax for the voters to decide. This tax would be used for roads, bike lanes, streets and paths in Washtenaw County.
The second issue, the road tax should be targeted for repair of the roads. A separate millage, voted on by the tax payers should be added for the purpose of non-motorized transportation throughout the county. The current millage facing the tax payers on the ballot in November will have a combined road tax and non-motorized transportation tax. Originally 10 percent of the revenue from this proposal would be used for non-motorized transportation throughout the county, but the current County Commissioner for District 1 increased this amount to 20 percent. This includes improvements to the Border-to-Border Trail. Additionally, at least half of all projects funded by the tax in cities and villages would be required to include a non-motorized component such as bike lanes, widened shoulders, lighted crosswalks and sidewalks. County townships would be required to include a 25 percent non-motorized component of all projects funded by the tax.
We need to keep our countryside beautiful and natural the way nature was intended for wildlife. Road taxes should be used for just that ROADS and to have a separate tax for special interests for bike and walking paths.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Washtenaw County Commissioners need to be held accountable and provide transparency as to how
taxpayer money is being used for individual township protection. The citizens of each township want protection and want to see how their taxes are being used to support police patrols and safety. The senior citizens of our community need to be protected.
VETERANS
Our Veterans have put their lives on the front lines protecting our shores so that we as Americans can live "The American Dream". We must help our Veterans as much as we can by providing assistance for education, jobs, housing and most importantly medical. Our Veterans should have the same or better healthcare and hospitilization needed and not have to wait forever to get the much needed care.
PLASTIC BAG ISSUE
The Washtenaw County Commissioners voted to impose a 10 cent/plastic/paper bag tax at grocery stores within the county starting next April 2017. My question is, is this really legal? The lawmakers currently have a bill pending Senate Bill 853 passed through the state Senate on May 10 and awaits approval from the state House. So why do it now and not wait? I am not in favor of this tax as I do feel that it is unfair to grocery stores as other stores will not be taxed.
A few other interesting facts:
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Overall, use of plastic bags has less impact on the environment.
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Recycling does work. The problem is not everyone knows that plastic grocery bags are 100% recyclable and not everyone has access to plastic bag recycling in their community. Meijer grocery stores have bins when you walk in to the store for bags.
So why not use your own bags:
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Reusing specially designed plastic or cotton bags is more environmentally sound than either paper or plastic.
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Shoppers need to reuse these special bags A LOT to reach the break even point. One British study concluded that the cotton bags in consideration needed to be used over 109 times to be superior to throwaway plastic bags. Unfortunately, the study found the average number of uses to be only 51 times.
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To be sanitary, the bags must be washed between uses. Adding the cost and inconvenience of the washing processes wipes out much of the advantage of reused bags, and washing lessens the number of times they can be reused.
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Failure to wash the bags can lead to exposure to dangerous bacteria such as coliform and E. Coli.
Even if there were a clear advantage to one type of bag, why should local governments mandate its use?
COUNTY ID PROGRAM
Washtenaw County Commissioners passed a County ID program for a $25 fee. The taxpayers of the county are paying for this identification program. I am in agreement with the two County Commissioners who voted against the funding of this program. The state of Michigan has the Michigan ID card that you can get for a $10 fee at the Secretary of State's office. So why does Washtenaw need their very own County ID?
Currently government-issued ID cards prevent unauthorized immigrants from accessing a variety of basic services — everything from signing up for perks at a local grocery store to opening a bank account — and it leaves them in fear of getting pulled over without ID....this is Washtenaw Counties solution.
BUSINESS
We need to promote the small businesses by lowering taxes and getting rid of Obamacare. By helping small businesses this will help them expand, discourage job loss and in the long run increase employment opportunities.