OPINION: Ypsilanti voters must stop the tax grab on May 8

Former Mayor Pete Murdock goes back years in Ypsilanti city politics. His flip-flopping (Mitt Murdock?) on the city income tax issue is a betrayal of many of his loyal supporters. After leading the fight against the city income tax in 2007, the anti-tax voters of his ward helped him return to City Council in 2008. But now, in 2012, Pete is leading the pro-tax campaign!

Former Mayor Cheryl Farmer, who is still very influential in Ypsilanti City politics, has always been an advocate of big government and big spending. Her belief that “government knows best” is one of the main reasons that Water Street was turned into and continues to be nothing more than a huge vacant lot.

Pete and Cheryl, along with the current mayor and numerous City Council members, past and present, are responsible for the dire predicament the city is in today. And now they expect us to pay for their failed policies.

Once again, the city is threatening to cut back on the number of police and firefighter positions in Ypsilanti. Don’t let their scare tactics frighten you into voting for the tax increases. If city officials would negotiate realistic, fiscally responsible contracts, there would be no need to reduce the number of police and firefighter jobs.

Don’t believe the city’s politically motivated “budget projections.” Government projections are rarely, if ever, correct. 
 


Remember that the more money we give them, the more over-spending they will do and the more money they will demand in the future. Since the millage is uncapped, City Council will be able to vote to increase it in the future. The voters will have no say in the matter.

Vote to STOP the City Income Tax and vote to STOP the Water Street Millage. Vote NO on both proposals on Tuesday, May 8.

John Wagner
Ypsilanti