Livingston Democrats endorse Veterans Millage on Aug. 2 ballot
Livingston County Democrats have gone on record in support of the proposed millage to support veterans services in the county that will appear on the Aug. 2 primary ballot.
The party’s executive committee unanimously approved a resolution in support of the .139 mill operating millage at its June meeting, but the party added a provision to its support.
“We urge voters to approve this tax increase so that the needs of the more than 12,300 veterans in the county can be met, but we also think that the downtown development authorities in the county should contribute more to veterans services,” said Judy Daubenmier, Livingston County Democratic Party chair.
“Under Michigan law, DDAs receive a portion of any millage,” Daubenmier noted. “But this millage is a surprise to the community and represents a windfall to the DDAs. We think it’s appropriate that the DDAs return their share of the millage to Livingston County Veterans Services so that the agency can provide services to more veterans. We think such a pledge by the DDAs will increase the chances of passage and reassure voters who always have questions about why the DDAs are allowed to receive a portion of any millage.”
The unanticipated millage was brought on by an opinion by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette that was requested by state Sen. Joe Hune. The opinion suggested that a millage currently being levied for aid to indigent veterans under PA214 of 1899 violated the Headlee Amendment. The opinion jeopardized the county’s ability to continue collecting taxes specifically for veterans, making the millage election necessary.
The six-year millage amounts to $13.90 a year for the owner of a home with a market value of $200,000. “That’s a small price to pay for the service rendered to the nation by our veterans,” Daubenmier said in urging support for the millage.
Veterans services currently are funded with a combination of the Veterans Relief millage required by the 1899 law and money from the county’s general fund. The operating millage will free up money in the county’s general fund while giving the Veterans’ Services Department a dedicated revenue source. At the same time, the funding will be more flexible since services under the 1899 law were targeted at indigent veterans.
At least 19 other counties fund veterans services through an operations millage
Livingston County Democrats have gone on record in support of the proposed millage to support veterans services in the county that will appear on the Aug. 2 primary ballot.
The party’s executive committee unanimously approved a resolution in support of the .139 mill operating millage at its June meeting, but the party added a provision to its support.
“We urge voters to approve this tax increase so that the needs of the more than 12,300 veterans in the county can be met, but we also think that the downtown development authorities in the county should contribute more to veterans services,” said Judy Daubenmier, Livingston County Democratic Party chair.
“Under Michigan law, DDAs receive a portion of any millage,” Daubenmier noted. “But this millage is a surprise to the community and represents a windfall to the DDAs. We think it’s appropriate that the DDAs return their share of the millage to Livingston County Veterans Services so that the agency can provide services to more veterans. We think such a pledge by the DDAs will increase the chances of passage and reassure voters who always have questions about why the DDAs are allowed to receive a portion of any millage.”
The unanticipated millage was brought on by an opinion by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette that was requested by state Sen. Joe Hune. The opinion suggested that a millage currently being levied for aid to indigent veterans under PA214 of 1899 violated the Headlee Amendment. The opinion jeopardized the county’s ability to continue collecting taxes specifically for veterans, making the millage election necessary.
The six-year millage amounts to $13.90 a year for the owner of a home with a market value of $200,000. “That’s a small price to pay for the service rendered to the nation by our veterans,” Daubenmier said in urging support for the millage.
Veterans services currently are funded with a combination of the Veterans Relief millage required by the 1899 law and money from the county’s general fund. The operating millage will free up money in the county’s general fund while giving the Veterans’ Services Department a dedicated revenue source. At the same time, the funding will be more flexible since services under the 1899 law were targeted at indigent veterans.
At least 19 other counties fund veterans services through an operations millage
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