At the Dec. 11 Riga Township Board meeting a public discussion was raised about taxes on fixed income residents. Two elderly Riga residents raised issues about the recent passage of the Blissfield Schools’ $23.6 million bond costing a $150,000 homeowner $244 in new yearly taxes. The millage passed by a 1004 to 860 margin. One elderly outspoken Riga resident said she was on a fixed income and coupled with rising water, lights and taxes it’s become hard to live on a fixed income. The Wegner Road resident told me, “We were told when water came [to Riga] it would be a boomtown! But now I see there is nothing to draw business to the area. Inflation is hitting everyone, not just the old!” An earlier Riga board meeting revealed the need to raise a new possible future millage for a new tank truck for the fire department. The millage costs were estimated at $250,000.

Whiteford is also proposing a new $10 million bond millage, extending the current $15.4 million bond. The current bond was passed in 2019 to improve school safety and technology. It passed by a 561 to 417 vote. The proposed $10 million bond will be spent on a $2.89 million elementary school improvement including four new classrooms and  $7 million in sports complex improvements. The new proposed bond is said to not raise yearly taxes but to extend the life of the current building bond by six years.

At the Oct. 10 Lenawee County Ways & Means Committee meeting, County Administrator Kim Murphy gave the county financial report. She reported that 69% of the county revenues are from property taxes. That number increased by 4.25%. County expenses increased by 9% this year. The 2024 general fund budget is balanced utilizing a portion of the fund reserves. 

As county and township officials rely on increased taxes to pay the bills more of our residents find it unaffordable. New economic development is badly needed to meet the needs of our region and not increase the burden on our residents.

— Paul Wohlfarth, Ottawa Lake