Has anyone noticed that property taxes seem to go higher and higher each year? Why is this happening you ask. Let’s take a look and see if we can figure it out. Get out your property tax bill. You may have a summer and a winter bill. The amounts you pay will differ on those two bills and you pay different millages on each bill. As your property values increase, the amount you pay in taxes will increase. When we vote YES on a bond proposal and millage, we are granting the taxing authorities the right to increase our property taxes. STOP voting yes on every bond proposal and millage!! We must force the entities seeking our dollars to find another source of revenue. We are being taxed out of our homes and off our property!!
We will be addressing ZOOS and MUSEUMS in this article.
Zoos and Museums are very nice to have in our communities. Most, if not all, Zoos and Museums charge an admission fee at the door. Why then are we paying Zoo and Museum millages on our property tax bills? Why should property taxpayers, that don’t go to those establishments still have to pay? Are they doing so at the risk of losing their home, farm or business? ABSOLUTELY!!
The Cities and Counties that have Zoos and Museums put those millage requests on the ballots for folks to vote on. Not all voters are property taxpayers and yet they get to weigh in (vote) for the property owners to pay a millage for the zoos and museums.
Because Zoos and Museums rely on property taxpayers and not just admissions, it doesn't matter if they are profitable or even cover their costs. As long as they are supported by taxpayers’ dollars, they can spend, spend, spend and not be held accountable for that spending. Remember, even GRANT money is taxpayer dollars!!! Nothing is free!!
If the Zoos and Museums charged admission and then sought DONATIONS from people and businesses that no longer had to pay property taxes, wouldn’t that be the better option?
I live in Kent County. My home pays $106.36 per year for the zoo and museum. My business pays $292.60. I do not go to either and it would be physically impossible for my business to go. I can only go as one person. It is about $20 for an adult ticket to the zoo. As a Senior, I would pay $15.
The museum admissions are $12 each or $10 for 62+. I would be able to go multiple times for the amount I pay in property taxes...If I CHOSE to go!!... Tuesdays are free due to the generosity of the Meijer Foundation. Would the Meijer Foundation and other corporations be able and willing to donate more if they weren’t paying such an exorbitant amount in property taxes? YES, and it would be considered Community Goodwill and give them a huge tax deduction!
Why do I pay for the zoo and museum thru my home AND my business? Businesses don’t get a vote. I can only vote as a homeowner. When businesses are forced to pay for services they do not use, they must pass those costs unto their customers. This means that when you dine out or get your oil changed etc, you are helping to pay that businesses’ property taxes to the zoo and museum. It is factored into everything they sell to you!!! This applies to landlords as well. If a millage is passed that raises the landlord’s property taxes....the landlord will be forced to raise the rent his tenants pay.
See how this works? Would you rather just pay admission when you visit the zoos and museums? Please VOTE NO on ALL millages and bond proposals and save Michigan homes, farms and businesses from being taxed right out of our hands!!!
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