To the editor:
Brandon should be looking at ways to cut spending and taxes, not increase both.
What started out as a small volunteer organization – $5,000 per year/per community, has blown into an out of control department named the Brandon Recreation Department, with an annual budget of more than $210,000.
Isn’t this the same township that gave its recreation director a 12.5 percent pay increase? Now they want more money to fund pet projects, that in this serious economic downturn we don’t really need.
Unemployment is running at 7.5 to 8 percent, and foreclosures and bankruptcies are at record highs. Businesses and residents are leaving the state in droves, and Brandon is asking for a tax increase.
Last month, they tried sticking us with a library tax, now they want a recreation tax. What next, another millage increase? Brandon Township has been, and will continue to be, out of control as long as its residents don’t give a damn and don’t hold their elected officials accountable. The whole township is mismanaged, from the school board superintendent who thinks a $151,000 screw-up in the site plan for the new elementary school, (as he stated) ‘is no big deal? to the Brandon Township Library that has a $97,000 sewer repair bill, $30,000 in attorney fees and is not even competent enough to track how many hours its employees work. What the heck does a library need $30,000 in attorney’s fees for, much less, a $97,000 sewer repair bill? Someone needs to be fired at the library and that goes for the superintendent as well.
Not to worry, ‘It’s no big deal.?
Brandon has the gall to state that this will only cost the average homeowner $27 per year, or less than a dollar a week. It was only supposed to cost us $15,000 and now it’s up to $210,000.
What’s next $500,000? $1million? Then what? By the way, don’t give us the crap that were doing it for the children or it’s just pennies a day. Besides, when politicians say, ‘It’s for the children,? it really means they’re hiding behind the children, because their spending plan has no merit to stand on its own, so they play the guilt trip card. Besides, most of our property taxes go to the children anyway, with our school taxes.
I would hope that the $27 that each homeowner would save would be spent as they see fit, and not Brandon Township. It’s our money, not Brandon’s. (If Brandon, got their way, with both the library and recreation tax, the average homeowner in Groveland would be paying close to $300 per year in tax increases).
Since the leadership in Brandon doesn’t know what $27 will buy an average homeowner, let me educate them: – 1/2 tank of gas;- 3 hours of wages at $9 per hour;10 pounds of hamburger or six gallons of milk.
If Brandon’s leadership really cared about its residents, it would not spend $151,000 moving the school 25 feet. It would eliminate the recreation department at a tune of $210,000, and it could easily slash the library operating budget by 20 percent or $340,000. For a total savings of $701,000. It makes you wonder how much other funding could be cut as well. I’m not against recreation or the library, when times are good. But when people are losing their jobs and their homes, it can’t be government as usual.
In closing, as far as I’m concerned, Groveland Township should divest itself as much as possible from anything to do with Brandon Township.
Harry F. Branca, Jr.
Ortonville