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Tag: State Parks

Lansing finding new and creative ways to rob taxpayers

By Nick, Section News
Posted on Fri Mar 13, 2009 at 07:28:01 AM EST
Tags: Lansing, Detroit, tax hikes, economy, State Parks (all tags)

When it comes to desperate folks depending on the government to make ends meet, clamoring for unemployment checks and asking the nobility...errr... the politicians in Lansing for money and a quicker response, Governor Granholm responded by hiring a bajillion more phone bank workers and sending members of the legislature into their local unemployment offices to "volunteer."

When it comes to desperate folks depending on the government to NOT take more than they're legally entitled through the property tax assessment process, so they can provide for themselves without ever having to go to the nobility... shoot, did it again... the politicians with a hand out and a "by your leave," Governor Granholm fires Tax Tribunal workers and creates a 22,000 case backlog.

Now, finally, she's offering to hire a couple dozen new "referees" to help resolve a backlog that's only getting bigger but unlike phone bankers, these folks need to go through a lengthy training process that will prevent any relief from arriving for the next three months. You know, because if you tossed amateurs into the gig they might actually agree with taxpayers a little too much.

The Detroit News reports:

Michael Kiwak, a 59-year-old out-of-work auto engineer from Livonia, has been waiting over a year and a half for his case to be decided. He says he's been unable to sell his home for $250,000, even though its assessed value is about $320,000.
"I'm way beyond frustration. The state of Michigan is stealing from me," Kiwak said. "The whole thing is almost criminal. We both know my property tax is way too high."

He's not the only one. Between 2005 and 2008 the number of cases being heard at the state level has more than doubled and run to the largest level since 1993 as starving state coffers devour every dollar they can, even (and maybe especially) when they shouldn't but think they CAN get away with it.

And while Lansing steals from hardworking homeowners, exacerbating home loss and serious family financial stress the Detroit Water and Sewage Department is preparing to dramatically spike utility rates for metro-Detroiters.

Read on...

(1 comment, 805 words in story) Full Story