GRASSROOTS AGAINST GRCC TAX GRAB

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July 30, 2007

On Friday, we griped about Grand Rapids Community College putting on August's ballot a request for a millage hike that the voters just defeated back in May. One of our comments was this:

"I suppose we could lament the absence of any champion for the voters' will to oppose this tax increase on the principle that the voters had already said no to it only a couple of months ago. However, the issue is in the voters' hands. They should be incensed that GRCC will not take no for an answer, and so they can vote in August accordingly. Yes, it's unfair that Michigan law allows outfits like GRCC to keep hauling people back to the voting booth every three months, and the state legislature should restrict millage ballots to the November general election. But, unfair or not, it's up to the voters, with or without a champion, to take control of this matter."

As it happens, Eric Larson of Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility has taken up, as a grassroots effort, the inequity of GRCC going back to the well so soon after being told "no" by the voters. He had this to say:

"... it's very hard to mount a response to these millages when they come up so quickly (and repetitively). It is my hope that our organization, Kent County Families for Fiscal Responsibility, will [be] just such a home base for those interested in good governance and fighting unfair tax policies/proposals. Email at info@kcffr.org and/or visit the website at www.kcffr.org."

Although we are not making any particular endorsement of Eric's organization, we admire and support the efforts of ordinary people to make their voices heard on government policies. This is especially so in a case like this in which the political, media, and business establishment has so firmly lined up against the voters and the taxpayers. We welcome information about any other grassroot campaigns in our community to make a difference in the upcoming election, either for or against the GRCC millage hike. Drop us a line and we'll put up a notice about your organization for our readers.

Posted on July 30, 2007 at 11:00 AM in Public Schools | Permalink

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Amen.

That's all... just amen.

--Nick
www.RightMichigan.com

Posted by: Nick | July 30, 2007 at 01:39 PM

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