I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
The tiny Kent county village of Sand Lake may vote itself out of existence Aug. 3. The reason? Some residents say they pay too much in taxes.
The Grand Rapids Press reports on the situation, calling it a “civil war” and noting that the battle has been brewing for months. Residents submitted 56 signatures for disincorporation in December. Of those, 53 were certified by Nelson Township Clerk Laura Hoffman.
Village leaders filed suit to stop the certification claiming there were problems with the petition. A Kent County Circuit Court judge ruled against the village in March, and last week the Michigan Appeals Court ruled against the village as well.
So after a legal battle that has cost the village some $12,400 and backers $15,000, 300 of the village’s 500 residents will vote in August to determine if the village should cease to exist after 141 years.
Ballot backers say they are paying way too much in taxes.
Village homeowners pay a total of 41 mills, the highest property tax among the county’s five incorporated villages. In addition to school, county and taxes from Nelson Township, the bill includes 14.6 mills for village government and 3.95 mills for village street improvement.
The village’s total share — 18.6 mills — is also highest among the county’s incorporated villages.
The operating levy funds a budget of $555,000 and pays for a full-time Department of Public Works staffer, two part-time police officers, a clerk, treasurer and two other part-time workers.
The irony is that Nelson Township, which would absorb the village should it vote to dissolve, relies on a partnership with the village to provide police and fire protection. If the village dissolves, those services will disappear unless picked up by Nelson Township– likely resulting in an increase in township costs and ultimately mills.
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