Polls open Tuesday for primary election

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, voters will be deciding on the future of personal property tax in the state for businesses, which would continue the phasing out of the tax as approved by the Michigan Legislature. Proposal 1 is on the ballot because the Michigan Constitution requires voter approval for any new taxes levied by local governments. For individuals, this is not a tax increase. Proposal 1 eliminates the current personal property tax liability for businesses that own equipment, machines and other furnishings.Essentially, the approval of the ballot would do four things:• Phase out personal property tax on all industrial property and some portion of commercial personal property. • Split the state use tax into two different taxes, the state share tax and local community stabilization share tax.• Create a Local Community Stabilization Authority to administer the local community stabilization share tax. The state share tax would be administered by the state. • Replace revenue local governments would lose from personal property tax with revenue generated from the local community stabilization share tax. The ballot proposal would replace the entirety of the $360,000 in revenue generated from the personal property tax for Tecumseh with expiring state tax credits, a small tax on certain manufacturing items and by part of the use tax paid by out-of-state suppliers.Currently, there is no organized opposition to Proposal 1, which is supported by a coalition of officials and organizations like the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union and AARP Michigan.Proposal 1 is part of a ten-bill package. Together, the bills would continue the phasing out of the personal property tax for businesses while reimbursing local governments that use the revenue to provide local services like firefighters and police officers. If approved, the proposal would take effect on Jan. 1, 2015.During the August 5 primary election, many contenders are running unopposed within their party. However, two Republi-can nominations are contentious. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, is the current U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 7th congressional district and is being opposed by Douglas Radcliffe North from Jackson for the GOP nomination. Mike Slusarski, vice president of Slusarski Excavating & Paving, is running against Lenawee County Road Commissioner incumbent Donald Isley for the nomination for the November 4 election. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5. Voters in Tecumseh City Precincts 1 and 3 cast their ballots at the AJ Smith Recreation Center at 810 N. Evans Street in the blue gym. Precinct 2 voters cast their ballot at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts at 400 N. Maumee Street. Voters in Precinct 4 vote at the Emergency Services Building conference room at 101 E. Russell Road.

Tecumseh Herald

 

110 E. Logan St.
P.O. Box 218
Tecumseh, MI 49286
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800-832-6443

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