The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
Voters should OK millage in York Twp.
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On May 6, my family and I must decide whether or not to have our taxes raised by 0.5 mills. It's not an easy decision given the economic climate in this part of the state.
People around here are struggling to make ends meet and it's difficult to give permission to the township to collect more of our hard-earned money.
This proposal, however, is for public safety. The money goes to the Milan Area Fire Department, the Saline Area Fire Department and to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department. These people dedicate their lives to keep ours safe. The decision to vote "yes" becomes easier.
As a York Township trustee, we spent months going over the fiscal budgets on every department. Many departments' budgets were cut. Through it all, there is not enough money to pay for our current levels of protection. Without this millage, the board would have no recourse except to reduce our current coverage levels.
I, with my family, urge all York Township residents to vote "yes" on proposal A May 6. Keep our township safe.
Wayne C. Meier
Trustee
York Township
Campaigning for board has been a pleasure
I appreciate everyone who has supported my candidacy for school board trustee in Milan Area Schools. I have enjoyed meeting and talking with many people and can see their dedication to Milan schools and children.
I believe, with all of us working together, we can continue to move Milan Area Schools forward and provide our children with outstanding educational opportunities that will prepare them for the future.
John Leacher
Milan
Millage to maintain public safety in York
York Township voters are being asked to approve a 0.5-mill tax May 6 to support our Public Safety Fund. Our current Public Safety Fund pays for three deputies and partially pays for township fire protection. Currently, a portion of our fire protection not covered by the existing public safety millage of a 1-mill tax is paid from the Township General Fund.
The cost for Washtenaw County Sheriff's deputies went up for the year 2008 by almost one-half, from $99,871 per deputy in 2007 to $149,553 per deputy in 2008. Because of this extreme cost increase from Washtenaw County, York Township's millage falls short of covering the costs.
When you, the residents of York Township, approved the public safety millage in 2005, the Township Board didn't anticipate this dramatic increase in costs from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department.
This proposed 0.5-mill increase for five years would result in a homeowner of a $200,000 home with a taxable value of $100,000 paying an additional $50 a year in property taxes.
The choice York Township is facing is to either approve this increase or to reduce the number of deputies we are contracting from Washtenaw County. I strongly support keeping public safety services at the current level.
As a member of the York Township Board, I urge your support in approving this tax increase for public safety. Your current Township Board has worked hard and carefully monitors the budget to operate your township as efficiently as possible.
Jane A. Kartje
Trustee
York Township
John Leacher would make a good trustee
My husband and I are writing to you about our support for John Leacher, who is running for a position on the Milan Area Schools Board of Education.
We feel that John Leacher would be an asset to the school board because he not only has previous experience as a school board member in another community, but values high quality schools that can offer a solid, quality education for our children.
We have witnessed John Leacher being involved in supporting his two daughters' educational and extracurricular activities since moving by choice to the Milan area.
John moved his family into the Milan School District because he saw what Milan had to offer to his children in excellent educational opportunities and extracurricular options. We feel this speaks a lot about what John Leacher values as important, not only in his own children's lives, but the lives of all children in the Milan School District.
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