Proposed Ann Arbor city income tax forum is tonight in council chambers
Want to weigh in on Ann Arbor's proposed city income tax?
A public forum is planned tonight, but take note: The location has changed.
The meeting will now be held at 7 p.m. in the Ann Arbor City Council chambers at city hall. The Historic District Commission will instead meet on the fourth floor of the Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave. - where the income tax forum was originally planned.
The City Council is debating whether to put a city income tax proposal on the November ballot. The council is expected to make a final decision Aug. 17.
If the proposal is approved by voters, commuters would pay 0.5 percent of their taxable incomes and Ann Arbor residents would pay 1 percent of their taxable incomes. City officials say it could raise $7.6 million in new revenues, even after factoring in the loss of the city's operating millage, which would be eliminated if an income tax is enacted.
As city officials ponder the proposal, the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce also has been gathering information from its members during two sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Read past coverage of the proposed income tax
AnnArbor.com government reporter Ryan Stanton will be at tonight's meeting. Email him or leave a comment with any questions you'd like to him to ask of city officials.
Comments
Pyro
Fri, Aug 14, 2009 : 7:37 a.m.
The city wants to tax the residents even more, they want to tax the communters, they wanted and got the new city hall, they want a new underground parking structure, the wanted and got a 3/4 to a 1 million dollar art sculpture. They wnated to lay of 14 police officers and ended up pyaing them to retire early, they want to lay off 14 firefighters. Does anyone else see a problem with this?? The entire city council, Roger Fraser and Mr Mayor - are no better then 4-5 yr old kids......want, want, want!!!!! And not one of them will take NO for an answer. WAKE UP ANN ARBOR!!!!
local
Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 9:01 p.m.
they want to tax, yet it is okay to spend money on an art piece in front of city hall. They truly enjoy wasting our money...
DagnyJ
Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 5:02 p.m.
Once the city has done some of the cost-cutting measures to get the budget in line (sell Huron Hills golf course, contract garbage collection, etc.) then I might support such a tax. Not before.
AccruedInterest
Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 3:15 p.m.
@Doug: Those four cities are not comparable to Ann Arbor in any category except geographically. If you're into random comparisons, Wayne doesn't have an income tax.
Alan Goldsmith
Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 1:49 p.m.
Frankly, I don't trust most of the current members of council on this issue. Let's let all the lawsuits, potential recall efforts, and the council votes that will be taken over the next few weeks run their course before we trust anyone with the several million additional dollars this tax will generate.
dougfroma2
Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 11:22 a.m.
Ok. Let's look at Detroit, Saginaw, Flint, and Muskegon. Each has a city income tax. Last I looked, no one was clammering to live and/or work in these locations...
djm12652
Thu, Aug 13, 2009 : 11:09 a.m.
It would be interesting to find out the rate of commuter employees vs resident employees. Also,would this tax be for City of Ann Arbor residents or even those that live in say, Pittsfield Twp with an Ann Arbor mailing address. I personally would love to give the government more money...I mean, I can cut back to 2 meals a day....