Scottville's Loss, Scottville's Gain

[XLFD]

A recent article in the Mason County Press without a by-line (written presumably by its editor in chief, Rob Alway) shows a typical media bias that happens quite often in the City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews).  Alway's long-term employment by the COLDNews and/or his current membership on the Scottville Planning Commission may be responsible for this loss of perspective.  See whether you can spot it in the following article.  I have highlighted the relevant parts by boldface and italics type.

Personal property tax reductions mean loss for Scottville

January 5, 2013

SCOTTVILLE – Recent changes in personal property tax laws will mean an anticipated loss of $6,700 for Scottville, starting in 2014. Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed the Personal Property Tax Elimination bill which means businesses with a taxable value of less than $40,000 will be exempt from paying personal property taxes.

The bill also means personal property tax for manufacturing will be phased out beginning in 2016 and all personal property taxes will be eliminated by 2023.

“There are provisions in the law to reimburse local communities based on essential services like police, ambulance, fire,” City Manager Amy Williams stated in her notes pre-city commission meeting report. “However, there are still no hard facts around exactly what this means. There is a part of the legislation that states units whose exempt personal property taxable value is less than 2.5% will not be reimbursed. At this time if the calculations we have are correct our taxable value percentage is 1.63% meaning we would not be eligible for reimbursement on essential services.

“It is my understanding that the $6,700 loss starting in 2014 is not eligible for reimbursement anyway; it is the larger amounts starting in 2016 that would be eligible for reimbursement if you meet the criteria. For Scottville the larger phase out amount would be a loss of $25,665 over the period of time and we likely won’t be eligible for reimbursement unless changes are made to the law.”

The Michigan Municipal League is still working on the issue with the governor’s office, Williams said. “So there is still time for changes to be made, but we will need to wait and see.”

The Scottville city commission will hold its first meeting of 2013 on Monday, Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m.

At that time, the commission is expected to appoint two new members of the planning commission. Jonathon Hill and Scott Gordon, both residents of Reinberg Avenue, have applied to be on the planning commission. If they are appointed by the city commission, the planning commission will still be one member short. The remaining vacancy can be filled by a non-resident. Anyone interested in the appointment should contact Williams at city hall: 231-757-4729, 105 N. Main St. or  [e-mail].

http://www.masoncountypress.com/2013/01/05/personal-property-tax-re...

I am half-suspicious that Rob has created one of the openings on the Planning Commission to devote more time to his journalistic and familial pursuits.  If he hasn't, he may just have to deal with me, as I have sent a letter of interest for that last spot on the commission.  But, did you happen to notice the problem with perspective/bias, that I alluded to earlier, that comes out in the article?

In the headline, tax reductions are called a 'loss' for Scottville, and it continues throughout the article as a $6700 loss for Scottville in 2014, and the larger $25,665 loss in 2016 and beyond.  But there is no money lost here, in fact it's in reality a net gain for Scottville.  That $6700 in 2014 comes from small businesses in Scottville, the $25,665 in 2016 comes from larger businesses in Scottville.  The money remains in Scottville with no loss or gain; however, instead of being in the City Hall Clerk/Treasurer's pocketbook, it is in the wallets of some of Scottville's business owners who qualify.  The money required to collect those taxes from those businesses will no longer apply, meaning a positive monetary result is achieved for Scottville!

Speaking of losses:  The City of Scottville, in the name of economic development, has no problem paying a Scottville Main Street Manager somewhere around $50,000 in wages and benefits each year and no problem paying Ludington's Community Development Director $15,000 a year to help in grant-writing procedures (which they have wisely decided not to renew for this year)-- but the City Government has a major problem when small businesses are granted a relatively small tax reduction (which should spur real economic development as that money is likely reinvested into their business and the local economy more effectively than bureaucrats begging for state-granted corporate welfare). 

 

This should be great news for Scottville citizens and businessmen, who are in the most taxed jurisdiction in the county, and should be reported that way, at least editorially. 

[Sean]

LPD doesnt have 35 officers.....but nice try...

[XLFD]

True, LPD doesn't have 35 officers, but I think Aquaman is referring to the rough total of the combined forces of LPD and the MCSO inside the city limits, either group capable of quick dispatch to any part of the city (except the Buttersville Peninsula holdings). 

But speaking of police officer density and crime, consider two cities of over 200,000 people:  Irvine, California and our nation's capital, Washington DC.  Irvine as of 2010 had 9.2 police officers per 10,000 residents, DC had nearly 65 per 10,000 residents-- over 7 times as many police per capita than Irvine.  Can you guess which City has a lot less crime (i.e. a lot smaller crime rate)? 

[Sean]

If they have 35 officers combined, some of those are doing desk work, drug work and detective work.  In the city I believe there are usually just 2 officers on, until summer time, and the County is the same.  Usually the County has 2 on, MAYBE 3 in the summer.  Do you feel that's to many?  Its not like they are rolling 5 officers out a day on each shift.

[XLFD]

Ludington and Mason County probably have about the right level of police protection that is safe and they can afford, but increasing or decreasing the police officer density isn't what's going to make our county a better place, it's going to be conscientious leadership by law enforcement and our various administrators.  

People in these positions that don't respect the law, don't respect ethical conduct, and don't respect the property and rights of the citizens incubate that same disrespect and disregard of the law, ethics, rights and property (of others) in many of the citizenry.  I think Cole and Barnett are sorely lacking when you look at their actions over the years. 

[Sean]

OOk,,, I haven't heard anything about Cole, other than the bs "lawsuit" a guy filed on Cole...

[XLFD]

You will.  But if you think Martin Schilling's complaint was BS, I doubt whether you will be objective about anything else that comes forward where ethics, laws, or rights were in violation by your hero.  I know Kim Cole doesn't think he did anything wrong with Martin Schilling.  That scares me when the sheriff of my county thinks that way, and apparently condones the senseless beatdown on Joseph McAdam by his deputies.  Let's be clear Martin Schilling and Joe McAdam did nothing wrong. 

[Sean]

They beat Joe McAdams down?  I thought they told him to leave the scene and he didnt follow multiple orders so they tased him.

With Martin Schilling, weren't they looking for his soon for a felony and knew he was at his dads house>? So they stopped twice looking for him because they knew he was at the house? Something along those lines was the story...

[XLFD]

Sean,

You are sorely misinformed, McAdams original complaint is attached below, and the pertinent part of what happened is reproduced here.  Note the basic facts have not been disputed from the records received, and I will eventually get the police tapes showing  this savagery.  If you condone this, I'm sure you're wearing brown.

And just because your son is being sought for a crime, doesn't mean you have less civil rights in the process, and get stopped, arrested and interrogated.  This country isn't based on police states.  There's a way you do things and ways you don't:  check out the "Coles' Law" threads to get better informed and see Cole's report where he admits his activities. 

[Sean]

Well I bet McAdams totally told the entire event in truth.  I bet he didnt fudge anything and was very honest.  The video will be great to see, I bet they gave him his chances to walk away and knowing Joe, he most likely didnt listen and his ego got big.

[XLFD]

I totally agree the video will be great to see, but McAdam's ego was eclipsed by the MCSO deputy's egos, as he was being clipped.  In none of the depositions was this 'sneak attack' on someone who did nothing wrong refuted.  I hope this goes to a jury trial, because it was a lot more egregious than what he's seeking in relief.

[AQUAMAN]

Sean, the reason you must be uninformed is because you haven't read the archives on the Torch regarding the McAdams and Schilling lawsuits. McAdams got tased many times, including while cuffed to a hospital bed, Schilling got roughed up also, just because his son was wanted for a misdemeanor marijuana offense. Please take this off-issue stuff to the Babylon group if you want to talk way off topic here. Thanks. Btw, LPD has more officers and patrols than you think Sean, Barnett himself told me the number, and I know it's about 25 now at least, more in the summer too. I've seen up to 6 officers patrolling in the summer per day shift.

[Sean]

LPD doesnt own 6 patrol cars....seems impossible to see 6 paroling.