Our view:
It’s time for officials working for Independence Township to come to grips with reality: Voters of this community do not want to spend their hard earned (and fast dwindling) dollars on a permanent senior citizen facility.
It is time for all those being paid by taxpayer dollars to stop toying with the idea of a new center. It is time to work on maintaining a balanced budget and ways of lowering the local tax burden.
Why, some may ask? Independence Township is the land of milk and honey. Only good things happen here, our economy is running gain-busters, our residents feel no pain in their wallets nor their bank accounts. Everybody’s got a job and all are happy.
That is not the reality in Michigan nor our community.
A quick call to the township’s assessing office found a ‘dramatic? increase in the amount of recent home foreclosures. Currently there are 129 homes somewhere in the process of foreclosure (whether bank owned or in the starting process). This number reflects back to 2005. Since the beginning of 2007, 51 homes are in foreclosure. These homes are not dilapidated homes — they run the gamut from starter homes to million dollar jewels. Independence Township is not immune to the state’s ailments.
Besides economic realities, township paid officials need to look at what the community has said
Voters do not want to pay for permanent senior citizen facilities. The township paid twice to ask and twice voters said ‘no.? A 2002 proposal would have collected $26 million for a new township hall and community center, with facilities for seniors. It was defeated by more than 5,000 votes.
Last November’s proposal would have collected about $3.1 million for a new adult-activities center. It was defeated by about 3,000 votes.
The township does not have the money to spend on creating temporary facilities and more millage campaigns.
The reality of the situation is clear, borne out by two elections. Independence Township voters do not want to pay for a new senior center. — PC