Members of Raisin Township Board address recall attempt

To the Editor,

We wish to honor and support the constitutional right of citizens to file a recall petition directed at their elected officials. It is a right that is part of the basis of our democracy. As such, we will not appeal the decision of the Election Commission approving the language of the recall petitions filed by Michael Wilson to the Lenawee County Circuit Court.
However, we feel the residents of the Charter Township of Raisin should understand, not only the errors in the basis of the petitions, but also the costs all Township residents will incur and potential ramifications of a successful recall election. The residents also need to understand that not only is there an administrative and judicial remedy for anyone who believes their tax assessments are not accurate, but that this recall effort will do nothing to change anyone’s property tax assessment.

The Board of Trustees of the Charter Township of Raisin has no authority to change anyone’s tax assessments. The standards for the assessment of property for the purpose of establishing a property owner’s tax liability are established by the State of Michigan and Lenawee County. In every instance relating to the assessment of commercial property at issue here, the Assessor, David Powell’s, application for those standards was found to be proper. In fact, the Lenawee County Equalization Department’s evaluation encouraged that the assessments of the commercial properties be higher than what Mr. Powell calculated.

A recall election will cost the taxpayers for Raisin Township approximately $15,000, many times more than any increases in property taxes assessed against the commercial properties of the petitioning parties. If that election is successful, another election to fill the vacant positions must be held within 90 days, at another cost to the taxpayers of $15,000. It is significant to note that during the 90 days between elections, Raisin Township will have only two elected officials. Because there would be no quorum of the Board of Trustees, Township business will be severely hampered, because the Board cannot perform its business.

Finally, this recall process will change no one’s taxes. There are administrative and judicial appeals that each property owner can access to have their assessments reevaluated. Not only will this recall do nothing to change the assessments that have been determined, but will have no bearing on how such assessments are determined in the future.

We encourage the residents of the Charter Township of Raisin to be informed and educated regarding these recall petitions. Everyone has the right to decide for themselves whether to support the recall effort or not. We hope that the information we are providing assists residents in making that decision.

Carl Wagner
Dale Mitchell
Lee Mohr
Jim Palmer
Debra Brousseau