For supporters, a millage to purchase and set aside undeveloped land would benefit everyone. Not everyone agrees.
‘If we can get this passed, what else are we going to buy,? asked Michael Powell of Independence Township. ‘I don’t agree with it at all. I think there are a lot of other avenues that people could be taking to buy this land.?
Powell, 24-year resident of the township, is heading up the group “Citizens Against Taxes to Buy Vacant Land.?
‘We’re trying to get a little opposition towards a tax, we think, is unfair,? he said.
Independence Township Board voted unanimously four months ago to put a 0.45 mill property tax increase up for a Nov. 4 vote.
It would collect $765,000 to preserve green space, a tax which was initiated by members of the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy and the group ‘Independence Goes Green.?
Powell said, ‘other avenues? can be taken to raise money for green space, such as the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. The fund uses annual revenue from natural resources such as gas and oil to preserve land considered green space.
According to Michigan DNR, the fund has been in place since 1976. It helps local governments purchase land’because of its environmental importance or scenic beauty.? It also helps pay for development of land for public outdoor recreation.
Applications are available online for any citizen or government official, noted Powell.
‘It’s a very simple process,? he said.
Powell also believes the tax is not a benefit to all, but just a few individuals and special interest groups.
‘They’re basically going to be using my tax money to protect other people’s neighborhoods. I don’t agree with that one bit because it’s not going to help me out any,? he said.
Another way is through contributions.
‘You can go to the township and say, ‘listen, we want to buy this property and it’s going to serve to protect this area, we want to eventually make a park out of it do you want to contribute??” he said. ‘I’m sure if they went around their neighborhoods, a lot of people would say ‘yeah I’ll kick in a $100 if we get enough people.? Then they could buy the land.?
Open spaces are also preserved through the township master plan, Powell noted.
‘If things get out of hand in people’s neighborhoods, then they need to start attending the meetings with master plan and complain about it. Raise voice about it,? he said. ‘That’s another way people can save green space and their neighborhood without picking my pocket.?
Powell also doesn’t like non-residents voicing their opinions on township matters.
‘The people who are voicing their opinions for it, all the more power to them if they have to pay for it, but if you don’t have to pay for it, then you don’t have an opinion, as far as I’m concerned,? said Powell. ‘Your opinion shouldn’t be in the paper because you aren’t paying for it.?
Jim Reed, a member of NOHLC and ‘Independence Goes Green,? said everybody is entitled to their opinion.
‘The money they think they’ll avoid spending, they’ll spend down the road because as we get more and more impervious surfaces, we’ll get dragged further and further into the requirements for phase II for groundwater,? he said.
According to Reed, phase II groundwater requirements will cost residents more taxes for more testing and more treatment of water, as well as more sewage systems.
Studies show saving open space, saves tax money ‘by avoiding infrastructure cost to support residential development.? Also, properties next to open space and parks increase in value, he said.
‘I think this group is very short sighted and would invite them to come and talk to us sometime. They’re talking a very small amount of tax money. I would suggest one Starbucks a week, it amounts to,? said Reed. ‘I think it would be a very wise investment on our part to invest the money now and save it in the future and also enhance the protection of our ground water and help preserve the rural character of our community, which most of us value.?
For those interested in hearing more about the proposal and ‘Citizens Against Taxes to Buy Vacant Land,? a special meeting is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the law offices of Henry Woloson, 7608 Dixie Highway, Suite 100.
‘We are definitely going to get a group together and see how many people are interested in this and we are going to try and make people aware that there are different avenues to be taken to raise money for green space,? said Powell.
‘Until all of those avenues are exhausted they shouldn’t be coming to the people who own property once again to support this kind of stuff.?
For more information, call Woloson at 248-625-6736.