Vote NO on senior center bond, millage
We strongly urge residents in Oxford, Addison and Orion residents to vote NO on the proposed bond and millage to construct, equip and operate Phase I of a $9.85 million tri-township senior citizen center.
Property taxes are meant to pay for public necessities ? such as police, fire, roads and schools ? not luxury items like a fancy senior center.
Supporters of the proposed senior center claim it’s a ‘need.? We say it’s nothing but a ‘want.?
Local taxpayers need not increase their already considerable burden with two more millages just so we can be more like Rochester with its grandiose Older Persons Commission (OPC) Center.
This whole senior center proposal smacks of pure envy and a desire to ‘keep up with the Joneses.?
It’s the height of ignorance and arrogance to ask local voters to approve two new taxes when people are losing their jobs and being forced to sell their homes.
Michigan has the worst economy in the nation right now and there’s no recovery in sight.
Now is certainly not the time to increase property taxes and put another nail in the coffin of working families and local businesses.
Supporters of the proposed senior center are fond of saying the 0.45-mill increase being requested amounts to only another $45 a year ? or 12 cents a day ? on a home with a taxable value of $100,000.
That doesn’t sound like much, except when you consider all the other millages property owners are currently saddled with on their summer and winter tax bills.
We already pay millages to support townships, villages, county government, local schools, police and fire services, libraries, parks and recreation departments, the intermediate school district and community college.
And don’t forget all those separate millages to pay off various bond debts and the non-homestead school millage local business owners pay.
We’re drowning in millages. Taxpayers need to be thrown a life-preserver, not another anchor or two.
Again, we strongly urge voters in Oxford, Addison and Orion to vote NO on both the proposed 20-year senior center bond and 10-year operating millage.
We simply can’t afford luxuries right now. ? CJC

Vote YES on 18-mill renewal for schools
We strongly recommend Oxford school district residents to vote YES on the 10-year, 18-mill tax renewal on non-homestead properties.
This request is a straight renewal for the entire 18 mills. No increase is being sought here.
The 18-mill tax on non-homestead properties is a basic and vital funding source for Oxford Schools.
Non-homestead properties include businesses, commercial and industrial properties, rental properties, second homes, vacation homes and vacant land not qualified for agricultural purposes.
If this renewal fails, our schools will lose approximately $5.4 million annually. That’s roughly 15 percent of the district’s budget or about $1,200 per student.
Such a revenue loss would constitute a devastating blow to the district resulting in deep budget cuts that would severely and negatively impact the classroom, sports and extra-curricular activities.
Failure of this critical millage renewal means Oxford Schools could go from being top notch to bottom of the barrel. The Wildcats? fierce roar would be reduced to a pitiful meow.
We can’t allow our schools, something we all take so much pride in, to lose such a significant chunk of their funding.
We strongly urge Oxford district residents to vote YES on the schools non-homestead millage renewal. ? CJC

Vote YES on police millage in Addison
It’s gut-check time in Addison Township.
No millage means no police services. It’s that simple.
Addison residents must vote YES on the proposed four-year, 3.5-mill tax to support the township’s contract for police services from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
We cannot in good conscience tell residents to vote away funding for their only police service for absolutely no valid reason. That’s exactly what a ‘no? vote will do because after March 31, 2007, there will be no funding for police services in Addison.
The Michigan State Police are not going to come riding to the rescue and start patrolling the township.
Addison officials are not going to try to form their own police department or enter into some type of joint law enforcement venture with surrounding communities. Both ideas would prove much, much more costly than the current sheriff’s contract.
The sheriff’s department is Addison’s only viable choice for police service and that’s not a bad thing because the deputies are hard-working professionals who care about the community they protect and serve.
Addison’s sheriff’s substation is by no means overstaffed and the township is not looking to add any more deputies or build a new substation.
Four days a week, there’s only one deputy working each of the three shifts covering the township. Three days a week, there are two deputies per shift.
Even though Addison residents only pay for six deputies and one sergeant via their contract, they still receive the support and backing of deputies stationed in surrounding townships plus special units such as aviation, marine, crime lab and K-9.
All in all, quite a bargain.
We strongly urge Addison residents to vote YES on their police millage.
Voting ‘no? is a vote against public safety and common sense. ? CJC

Vote YES on police millage in Oxford
This is an easy one. A no-brainer if you will.
Oxford Township is seeking a straight renewal ? no increase ? of its police millage which supports the service contract with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
Since taking over police services in the township in February 2000, the sheriff’s department has done a good job. No complaints here.
The Oxford substation is staffed by a lieutenant, sergeant, patrol investigator and 12 deputies.
We see absolutely no reason for voters to reject this simple request for a renewal.
Therefore, we urge Oxford Township residents to vote YES on the five-year, 2.9152-mill renewal for police services. ? CJC

Brad Jacobsen’s the one to fill Patterson’s shoes
Filling the late Bill Patterson’s shoes on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is no small feat or easy task.
But we believe electing Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford) to represent District #1 will help continue Patterson’s legacy.
A lifelong Oxford resident and 1975 OHS graduate, Jacobsen knows this area and its people.
After serving 16 years on the Oxford Township Board, Jacobsen knows exactly what’s expected of an elected official and how to determine what’s truly in the public’s best interest.
As vice president of Jacobsen’s Flowers in Lake Orion, he understands the needs and concerns of local business owners both large and small.
As an active member of the Rotary Club of Oxford, Jacobsen learned what it means to put ‘service above self? from a group that lives it.
Unlike many who seek seats on the county board of commissioners, Jacobsen isn’t looking for power, notoriety or to gratify his ego.
Brad Jacobsen wants to go to Pontiac to continue doing what his father-in-law Bill Patterson did so well for eight years ? faithfully represent the people of District #1 by listening to them here and speaking for them there.
Jacobsen will make sure the concerns of northern Oakland County are heard loud and clear in the Commissioners? Auditorium.
We wholeheartedly support Bradford C. Jacobsen’s bid to represent District #1 on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
Make Bill proud. ? CJC