U.S. President & Vice President
Representative in Congress, 6th District
University of Michigan Board of Regents
Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Wayne State University Board of Governors
Michigan Court of Appeals, 3rd District
State Representative, 60th, 61st, 63rd Districts
Circuit Court Judge, 9th Circuit
City of Kalamazoo Ballot Proposals
CHARTER AMENDMENT
PROPOSAL 1. (Reduction of residency requirements for city commission
candidates.)
Shall Section 6(a) of the City Charter be amended to state
that a person seeking the office of City Commissioner shall be a resident
of and a qualified
elector in the City at the time of filing for election or appointment to
that office?
Yes___ No____
Background: The City Charter presently requires that a person filing for the office of the City Commission shall have been a resident of the city and a qualified elector for two years previously. In the fall of 2003 the Commission initiated discussion with WMU and K-College students, who had argued that the two-year requirement made it difficult for students for students to run for elective office in the City. On May 17, 2004, the Commission voted to submit this proposal to city voters.
Proponents say: If people who live in the city are legal residents and eligible to vote, they should be entitled to participate fully in city government, including being able to run for office. Voters can then decide whether length of prior residence is one of the issues affecting how they vote.
Many university and college students want to be active, contributing members of the community. They will be encouraged to participate in civic life by the approval of this proposal.
Opponents say: Those who have only recently
become residents of Kalamazoo need a period of time to become acquainted
with the community before they seek to hold
public elective office. The present two-year residency requirement serves
this purpose.
Students, most of whom live in the community for only a few years and are
not necessarily concerned with its long-term interests, will be more likely
to run for and be elected to office if this proposal passes.
CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL 2. (Reduction of the number
of installment payments permitted for summer taxes.)
Shall Section 87 of the City Charter be amended to reduce from
twelve to six the number of installment payments permitted for the payment
of summer
taxes? Passage of Proposal 2 is contingent upon passage of Proposal 3.
YES__ NO__
Background: For many decades, the Charter has authorized city taxpayers to choose twelve monthly installment payments for their summer taxes as an alternative to full payment on July 31. City officials believe that the installment system was initiated to provide financially distressed taxpayers relief during the Depression. In 2003, the installment option was used for payment of 15% of these bills (3,689 out of 25,391 issued, of which 2,829 were for residential and 860 commercial properties.) This proposal would require that installments be completed no later than the end of the fiscal year in which they were issued (December 31). A “Yes” vote on this proposal also requires a “Yes” vote on Proposal 3
CHARTER
AMENDMENT PROPOSAL 3 (Requirement that the City annually turn over deliquent
property tax accounts to the County.)
Shall Sections 88-91 of the Charter, which provide for the collection
of delinquent city taxes on real property, be repealed, and a new Section
88 adopted in their place, directing the City Treasurer to turn over
delinquent
tax accounts annually to the County Treasurer for collection, under applicable
provisions of state law. Passage of Proposal 3 is contingent upon passage
of Proposal 2.
YES__ NO__
Background: The current 12-month installment program prevents the City from turning delinquent summer taxes over to the County Treasurer by the March 1 deadline. As a result, Kalamazoo is now the only city in Michigan that continues to collect delinquent real estate taxes and maintain its own tax sale and foreclosure process. Passage of these two proposals would bring the city into sync with the statewide system.
| Proponents say: The City will realize significant interest and administrative cost savings from the reduced period for installment payments and from transferring the collection delinquent accounts and foreclosures to the County (estimated at $86,930 if this system had been in effect in 2003). • Reducing the number of installments to six will still allow taxpayers flexibility in paying their summer taxes. The confusion and delays in real estate transactions in the City of Kalamazoo created by the non-conformity of the present tax delinquency and foreclosure processes with those elsewhere in the state will be eliminated. • With the final installment coming due within the City’s fiscal year, financial statements issued by the City will yield a clearer financial picture of the City for benchmarking or bond rating purposes. |
Opponents say: Halving the number of installment payments permitted may create additional financial hardship for low-income property owners (67% of the residential accounts which paid on the installment option qualified for the principal residence—formerly homestead— exemption.) |
KALAMAZOO TRANSIT
AUTHORITY PROPOSAL
This proposal will replace the full amount of the previously authorized
mills of the Kalamazoo Transit Authority expiring in 2004.
Shall the City of Kalamazoo Transit Authority, County of Kalamazoo,
Michigan levy as new, additional millage, replacing previously authorized
mills,
an amount not to exceed one dollar ($1.00) per thousand dollars ($1,000)
(1.00 mils) of the Taxable Value of all taxable property in the City
of Kalamazoo for a period of three years, beginning with the 2005 levy,
to
provide for public transportation services, including limited evening
services? If approved and levied in its entirety in 2005, this millage
would raise
$1,562,618 for the Transit Authority.
YES___ NO____
Background: Since 1986, city voters have approved a series of millage levies to partially fund local public transportation provided by the Transit Authority (Metro Transit). This one mil levy, for which a renewal is sought, provides 7.9% of the total 2004 Metro Transit budget of approximately $19.5 million. Remaining sources are federal government (40.2%); State of Michigan (19.3%); subsidies from other governments and public institutions, including WMU (11.4%); fares and other miscellaneous income (6.9%); and other (1.3%).
Proponents
say:
This proposal asks for renewal of current taxes, not an increase. The
cost to the average city homeowner will be about $39.00/year.
Metro Transit buses provide more than 3,000,000 rides per year or an average of 9,800 rides per day. Of those who ride, 78% have no other moderately priced and reliable means of getting to work, school, shops, medical appointment or other destinations because of age, disability, or lack of a driver’s license or car. Ridership has grown steadily over the years Metro Transit has a proven record of providing dependable, cost-effective and user responsive bus service in the Kalamazoo urban area. Since the first millage approval in 1986, it has added evening bus service, improved frequency of runs, modified routes and facilities to meet consumer needs, and obtained financial support from other local jurisdictions and public institutions In Michigan, public transportation relies on federal, state and local subsidies to support services and maintain services.
Opponents say:
Since the great majority of Kalamazoo area citizens seldom or never
use public transit services, support of this millage cannot be justified.