The City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews) ran a front page story on their weekend edition allowing the WMFDA Fire Chiefs to tell you why they needed your cash, in a way that would have likely been against the law if the new election laws were in effect that forbid communications like this within 60 days before an election on a millage or proposal.
Wouldn't it be nice if the COLDNews would allow three locals who were about to have their homes foreclosed in Mason County make the case for lowering the tax burden they have to contend with, to balance the dialog on the issue?

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Comment by AQUAMAN on March 1, 2016 at 3:35pm

The problem with this mindset, as we see constantly these days in all phases of government, is that once they get money from a source, esp. for a few years, it never ends. So it's only $30-60/yr. for most people now. Then it's that much or more for other repeated fees and taxes. Then it's more again for the city bond issue for upgrading the water treatment plant, waste treatment plant, sewers, water mains, wage and benefit increases, other misc. fees, police pensions and special equipment, it all adds up at the end of the property tax bills. Many hundreds of dollars per year already now, not all of which is necessary if the budget was spent wisely to begin with. And also if the reserve fund within the city of $10Million piggy bank was broken to help offset these expenses, which is why it was created.

Comment by XLFD on March 1, 2016 at 11:03am

In the full article, the chiefs admit that they are pretty well set at the moment with equipment and apparatus and that they are asking for the millage to maintain that readiness.  For every $10,000 of your real property in the fire district, you would be paying an extra $3 in taxes, and so it is likely that you will work a couple of hours at your job or more in a year just to cover the costs of the millage.  The voter will have to decide for themselves whether it's worth it to fund an agency that will probably bank the money, or whether they could use that money to pay all their other bills that are going up, many courtesy of the government. 

I agree with Aquaman, it would have been more responsible of the WMFDA to let it lapse for a couple of years and bring it back when it's needed again.  Nevertheless, our good people will vote to raise this money this year, just as they surely would in the future if the case was made for it.

Comment by AQUAMAN on February 29, 2016 at 6:42pm

I've peeked into a few of the Fire Dept. garages of recent and feel that at this time, they are fully and well equipped as it stands already. Maybe it would be more prudent at this date, to ask not for more monies, but take a break for a few years, until the economy rebounds. As for the example of Pallet Recycle, that business, with all three or four departments responding, still burned to the ground and was a total loss. Nice comparison if you want to believe in more money solving local fire emergencies.

Comment by Willy on February 29, 2016 at 12:11pm

Begging for dollars is more like it. At least there are places where geriatric fire fighters can ply their trades even when the hoses get to heavy them. The combined ages of the chiefs has got to be close to 300. I'm just joking. I do appreciate what they do and what they represent. They perform a great service for their communities. I do wonder if Jerry's last name had caused him any grief when he was growing up.

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