CASSOPOLIS — Cass County commissioners lashed out at the state lawmakers after attending the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) conference.
“We do not have a lot of friends in Lansing,” Commissioner Dale Lowe, R-Howard Township, said Thursday night.
“Talking to our senator, you might as well talk to that post,” Lowe said for the benefit of the Sen. John Proos staffer in the audience. “He listens, but has no sympathy for the county. Our Rep. Matt Lori listens, but doesn’t want to comment on or commit to anything. Our lieutenant governor (Brian Calley) says, ‘We’re not going to take all of your personal property tax, just some of it. Down the road, we’re going to give some of it back.’ In 2016! That’s two elections down the road.
“We swallowed this once before and we’ve been losing money ever since. We can’t afford to lose any more money,” Lowe said.
“We need to convince legislators we need help. We need to be beating on these people.”
Commissioner Robert Wagel, R-Wayne Township, agreed.
“Every commissioner should be concerned,” he said. “It’s time the state legislature faces up to reality. The governor’s proposal allocates $125 million, which is $42 million short of the $167 million it should be. This was a hot issue at every MAC meeting as well as personal property tax.”
“The state has got to find road funding and not keep putting it off,” Robert Ziliak, R-Milton Township said.