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Dexter Township resident Dale Lesser appeared before the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners tonight to do something he says he doesn't normally do: Advocate for a tax hike.
As a conservative Republican farmer, Lesser's general rule is smaller government and lower taxes. But he's 100 percent behind an Act 88 millage to raise money for economic development and agricultural programs throughout Washtenaw County.
"I was conflicted in the idea that it would be a raise of taxes, because farmland and farmers in general pay a lot more in than what we get out," he said. "But Extension and 4-H and FSEP are all things that are very important to us, and so this is a way to keep connected to the system, and that's why I'm supporting it."
Washtenaw County commissioners took one small step closer toward closing the gap on a $30 million budget deficit tonight.
Commissioners, at their Ways and Means Committee meeting, voted 8-2 to approve an "Act 88" millage, a new countywide tax of 0.04 mills that will free up $603,000 a year in the county's general fund.
The tax will be levied for the first time in December and will cost property owners $4 for every $100,000 of taxable value. It will provide an alternative means of funding economic development and agricultural programs that currently rely on the county's general fund budget for support.
Commissioners Kristin Judge and Wesley Prater were the only ones to oppose the tax. Judge has said she wants to more closely examine the county's budget before she approves raising county taxes.
"I refuse to raise taxes without a referendum," Prater said of his reasons.
Commissioner Jessica Ping abstained from the vote because of a conflict of interest. She said she has an ongoing business relationship with Ann Arbor SPARK and SPARK East, which the tax would fund.
Commissioners are expected to give final approval of the Act 88 millage at their next full board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21. The meeting will be followed by a public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m., Oct. 22.
The Act 88 millage will maintain funding at these levels for the following programs:
• $200,000 for the economic activities of Ann Arbor SPARK and $50,000 for SPARK East.
• $100,000 for the economic development activities of the Eastern Leaders Group.
• $137,000 to fund the activities of the Department of Economic Development and Energy.
• $15,000 for the Washtenaw MSU Extension Agricultural Innovation Counselor.
• $27,000 for horticulture programming for the Washtenaw MSU Extension horticulture educator.
• $60,000 for 4-H activities, including allocations to the Washtenaw Farm Council for operating the Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show and 4-H agricultural programming for the 4-H Extension educator.
• $15,000 to support the work of the Food System Economic Partnership.
Commissioners are expected to adopt the 2010-11 budget in committee on Nov. 4, with final approval Nov. 18.
Commissioners noted the Act 88 millage would only be levied for one year before the county board revisits it next year.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
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