West Michigan tax proposals win on ballot

In what may be an indication of the limited reach and political muscle of the nascent anti-government, anti-tax Tea Party movement, voters in three municipalities and at least two school districts in west Michigan approved various tax increase initiatives.

The Grand Rapids Press reports that residents in Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming all voted to approve tax increases on themselves to support fire and police services. While voters in Holland’s school district and in the Kenowa Hills district approved millages to fund building and various expansions in those districts.

Here’s what former Republican lawmaker and political observer who runs Inside Michigan Politics Bill Ballenger told the newspaper in relation to these votes:

“I think what the Tea Party is focused on is big government, far removed. A lot of these people — Tea Party people, taxpayers, homeowners — are frustrated because they can’t get their hands on what’s happening in Washington.

“That doesn’t mean they are going to turn down the local millage proposal. If it’s something on a local basis that’s involved in school quality or police or fire protection, people are saying that’s worth supporting.”

Ballenger said the results might be instructive for state legislators, many of whom are “scared to death” of proposing any kind of tax increase.

“Apparently, the voters are saying, ‘Maybe that’s what you think. It’s not what we think.’”

Perhaps these votes will end up being instructive for state lawmakers who have battled with placing any type of tax increase on the August ballot. The issue, according to the Press report, appears to be making a solid case for the monetary need from residents.

Michigan lawmakers can certainly make that argument in light of the continuing struggles to balance the state’s budget in an era of declining state revenues, tanking property values and record high unemployment.