Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ TAXES AND FUNDS; LIKE DELINQUENT TAX FUNDS ~
(Transfers of County Money)
~ PUBLICLY SPEAKING ~
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B&G = Building and Grounds Committee ~ Dissolved in January 2017 (Minutes~Legal Documents)
ECBOC = Emmet County Board of Commissioners (Minutes~Legal Documents)
ECBOC Ad-Min = Emmet County Board of Commissioners Administrative (Minutes~Legal Documents)
B&G = Building and Grounds Committee ~ Dissolved in January 2017 (Minutes~Legal Documents)
ECBOC = Emmet County Board of Commissioners (Minutes~Legal Documents)
ECBOC Ad-Min = Emmet County Board of Commissioners Administrative (Minutes~Legal Documents)
The Public Comment above references Notestine's motion documented below to accept $38,598.41 excess of tax sale from the Treasurer. Upon checking of those listed as present at that meeting... the Treasurer was NOT at the meeting even to have offered the excess tax sale money which is what is legally supposed to transpire!
The Public Comment above references Finance Director Van Allen's explanation below to accept $38,598.41 excess of tax sale from the Treasurer. No evidence was found in the minutes that the Treasurer was involved in this transfer of excess tax sale money when the ECBOC authorized this transfer at the 14 May 2015 regular ECBOC meeting.
Public Comment above made on 10 May 2016 was in regard to the proposed Performing Art Center at Bay Harbor.
~ State Coffers Getting Drained in 1911 ~
~ That Pesky School Tax ~
1913
TWO Sure Things in Life...
DEATH and TAXES!
1949
~ "Longest Serving County Treasurer in the COUNTRY" in 1963 ~
When Lewis White passed away in 1963, his obituary stated: "Mr. White was believed to have held office as county treasurer longer than any other person in the country and in all of the elections he entered between 1904, and his last one in 1960, he only lost once." He first took office in 1913, but "because of an old law that said county treasurers couldn't serve more than four years, he stepped out in 1917 and Martin S. Markham served through 1920. The late Rep. E.L. 'Ned' Sargent of Levering, wrote a bill changing the law and in 1920 Mr. White was re-elected county treasurer and re-elected every two years after that for the next 40 years. "
Additional information about Emmet County Treasurers can be found on the "Levering" web page. George Carlton's obituary tells that he died in 1925, and that he had been Emmet County Treasurer for two full terms. That means that George Carlton was treasurer BEFORE Lewis White who began his first term in 1923.
~ Large Pre-sale Payment of Delinquent Taxes ~
1924
Article Below: Income Tax (NOT Property Tax) began in 1909 with the 16th amendment to the Constitution. The Sixteenth Amendment (Amendment XVI) to the United States Constitution allows the Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the United States Census. The "Father of Income Tax" died in 1960 at 96 years old.
~ How Much is $1 Billion ? ~
1960
1976 Article Below: Emmet County Board of Commissioners set up a delinquent tax fund whereby the county would reimburse all units for unpaid taxes each year. John Axe, a Detroit attorney was hired by Emmet County to set up the delinquent tax fund which Axe has done already for several counties [In later years John Axe was hired by the ECBOC to do a forensic audit regarding the Delinquent Tax Fund and how that money was spent by certain commissioners.]. It is not clear in 2022 even that a separate fund is set up with the county's money to cover the delinquent taxes. The object originally
~ Tax Reform Called for by Emmet Board ~
1987
~ Tax Allocation Budget Hearing ~
2015
~ Need New "Slate of Commissioners" to Rid High Tax Spending ~
2016
2016
~ Higher Taxes for 2020 will be the Mantra for Emmet County Board of Commissioners ~
2019
~ Emmet County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting ~
(Letter from Karla Buckmaster read to commissioners during the meeting)
10 February 2020
(Letter from Karla Buckmaster read to commissioners during the meeting)
10 February 2020
~ Higher Taxes on the Horizon ~
(LETTER TO THE EDITOR of the PNR)
2020
~ Emmet County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole Meeting 13 July 2020 ~
The Emmet County Board of Commissioners talked about the above issue as stated in the Letter to the Editor about the upcoming 2 August 2020 "Tax Limitation Proposal" on the ballot for the county. Pam Gibson, the county Finance Director, said she has been receiving questions so asked to comment and give some information about the county millage as people have been calling. "Every 4 years we ask the taxpayers for operating millage to operate the county… to levy no more than 5.6 mils for the county." She then read the ballot language. "But, keep in mind over the last 20 years we have never authorized to levy more than 4.85 of the 5.6 mil, and, I do believe that is our intention going forward as of right now [NOT A TRUE STATEMENT... in past meetings the commissioners have discussed raising the present levy of 4.85 mils, but Pam does not admit to that.]… cannot ask for any more without a vote of the people" [This is not true. In the future, the commissioners need only to vote themselves, not the people, to raise the 4.85 mils possibly up to the 5.6 mils].
Commissioner Kargol, also had been receiving questions, and proceeded to ask why "it [the ballot] is not worded like a 'renewal'? People are looking at it like it may be something new we’re asking for." The Finance Director replied that "with the county it is not considered a renewal." Civil Consul Engle stated it is not considered a renewal because it requires the voters to enact all over again every 4 years with a vote of what is going to be the millage rate" [Note Engle did not say how many mils will be levied, but what the millage rate can reach]. The Finance Director stated she has records back to 1993 showing “we have never levied more than the 4.85."
Commissioner Chairman Shorter said, "It [the millage rate] still has the possibility of raising and that is what people are seeing."
Neil Ahrens said, "I will be extremely unpopular for saying this, but will call out the elephant in the room. Because I do think it’s something that needs to be examined. I don’t know of any business that the costs have not gone up in 20 years. So the 4.8… if anybody who owns a business who thinks they will never raise the prices because their costs go up if they provide a service for 20 years. I said this before I’m just putting it out there again." [YES, Mr. Ahrens is one of the commissioners who has brought up raising the tax levy higher from 4.85, and keep in mind that he has no one running against him in the November election, so the taxpayers can COUNT on this raise in property taxes coming before the 2021 commissioners!]
Chairman Shorter replied to Commissioner Ahrens that Shorter "hates to debate that. If you do take a look at, I believe, we’ve had a 3% increase in real estate taxes per year... for the Headlee if I’m not mistaken; so there has been a built-in increase …. but, that would be for another day if it comes up that we have to increase it" [Chairman Shorter is not running for commissioner for 2021, so will not be a part of any discussion since it will be put off until 2021].
Commissioner Kargol, also had been receiving questions, and proceeded to ask why "it [the ballot] is not worded like a 'renewal'? People are looking at it like it may be something new we’re asking for." The Finance Director replied that "with the county it is not considered a renewal." Civil Consul Engle stated it is not considered a renewal because it requires the voters to enact all over again every 4 years with a vote of what is going to be the millage rate" [Note Engle did not say how many mils will be levied, but what the millage rate can reach]. The Finance Director stated she has records back to 1993 showing “we have never levied more than the 4.85."
Commissioner Chairman Shorter said, "It [the millage rate] still has the possibility of raising and that is what people are seeing."
Neil Ahrens said, "I will be extremely unpopular for saying this, but will call out the elephant in the room. Because I do think it’s something that needs to be examined. I don’t know of any business that the costs have not gone up in 20 years. So the 4.8… if anybody who owns a business who thinks they will never raise the prices because their costs go up if they provide a service for 20 years. I said this before I’m just putting it out there again." [YES, Mr. Ahrens is one of the commissioners who has brought up raising the tax levy higher from 4.85, and keep in mind that he has no one running against him in the November election, so the taxpayers can COUNT on this raise in property taxes coming before the 2021 commissioners!]
Chairman Shorter replied to Commissioner Ahrens that Shorter "hates to debate that. If you do take a look at, I believe, we’ve had a 3% increase in real estate taxes per year... for the Headlee if I’m not mistaken; so there has been a built-in increase …. but, that would be for another day if it comes up that we have to increase it" [Chairman Shorter is not running for commissioner for 2021, so will not be a part of any discussion since it will be put off until 2021].
On 29 July 2020 the Petoskey News Review ran an article, put forward by a county press release, titled: "Voters to mull tax limitation extension" which only included the above remarks of County Finance Direct Pam Gibson, along with those of civil counsel Robert Engel. NO mention was made in the newspaper article that during discussion at that same meeting of this same topic that Commissioner Arhens admitted to the raising of the 4.85 mils by levying up to the proposed 5.6 mils would be an option [Noted in the information presented above].
NOTE: In the 6 August 2020 Petoskey News Review article posted below, it was finally being acknowledged, albeit too late for voters to understand the ramifications of the proposal [outlined in red by this web master], that YES, the "county commissioners have indicated they do intend to levy the full 5.6 mill amount next year." The vote of 898 to 510 passed the proposal, so everyone in the county can look forward to property taxes being raised .75 mills for 2021. Just wait!
NOTE: In the 6 August 2020 Petoskey News Review article posted below, it was finally being acknowledged, albeit too late for voters to understand the ramifications of the proposal [outlined in red by this web master], that YES, the "county commissioners have indicated they do intend to levy the full 5.6 mill amount next year." The vote of 898 to 510 passed the proposal, so everyone in the county can look forward to property taxes being raised .75 mills for 2021. Just wait!
It is hard to believe that businesses and residents of Emmet County which have been burdened with various restrictions during the COVID–19 Pandemic, causing financial losses, are having multiple Millage Proposals looming. Bay Bluffs millage proposal in November 2021, followed by Transit and Housing funding proposals in the next year or so. Transit is espousing an authority with the funding source as a millage.
Granted, the Primary Resident rates are lower figures mostly because the 18 mils of school taxes are not placed on the property taxes of documented Primary Resident property owners. Millage rates, however, especially affect non-homestead properties (businesses and second homes and properties); like in Bear Creek Township at 43.5521 mils and the city at the very highest 53.9445. I don’t know why those “non-homestead” businesses and second-home people do not just band together and “throw a FIT”… they quite obviously have NO VOTE on the millage matters that affect them… but, they could have a VOICE if they chose! I wish they would protest and wake up some governmental officials. Consider that just this last year in 2021 the Petoskey News Review sold their downtown property; not surprising considering their ANNUAL property tax last year (just for ONE year) was at least $50,000.00. That is one Hell of a Lot of newspapers that had to be sold just to cover that one expense. AND, in the city of Petoskey, that is not an uncommon amount of high taxes. I think Bob Berg pays about $30,000.00 annual property tax on his ONE property of the HOLE… not including his other properties. AND, he has nothing for income right now coming in from the HOLE property… just a leaky pot-hole for him. The same situation is with The Land & Cattle Company that owns the vacant properties in downtown… over taxed. No wonder many of the local area businesses cannot afford to pay their employees a livable wage, after they pay their property taxes. IF businesses could afford to pay higher wages, then people could afford to buy their own housing and vehicles.
Government officials need to quit finding ways of spending money on non-mandated services and the wants of various interest groups… and quit raising the millage rates to the taxpayers. I see the excessive millages as the SOURCE of many of the problems in our communities. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster (30 July 2021)
Granted, the Primary Resident rates are lower figures mostly because the 18 mils of school taxes are not placed on the property taxes of documented Primary Resident property owners. Millage rates, however, especially affect non-homestead properties (businesses and second homes and properties); like in Bear Creek Township at 43.5521 mils and the city at the very highest 53.9445. I don’t know why those “non-homestead” businesses and second-home people do not just band together and “throw a FIT”… they quite obviously have NO VOTE on the millage matters that affect them… but, they could have a VOICE if they chose! I wish they would protest and wake up some governmental officials. Consider that just this last year in 2021 the Petoskey News Review sold their downtown property; not surprising considering their ANNUAL property tax last year (just for ONE year) was at least $50,000.00. That is one Hell of a Lot of newspapers that had to be sold just to cover that one expense. AND, in the city of Petoskey, that is not an uncommon amount of high taxes. I think Bob Berg pays about $30,000.00 annual property tax on his ONE property of the HOLE… not including his other properties. AND, he has nothing for income right now coming in from the HOLE property… just a leaky pot-hole for him. The same situation is with The Land & Cattle Company that owns the vacant properties in downtown… over taxed. No wonder many of the local area businesses cannot afford to pay their employees a livable wage, after they pay their property taxes. IF businesses could afford to pay higher wages, then people could afford to buy their own housing and vehicles.
Government officials need to quit finding ways of spending money on non-mandated services and the wants of various interest groups… and quit raising the millage rates to the taxpayers. I see the excessive millages as the SOURCE of many of the problems in our communities. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster (30 July 2021)
Charlie Reese was a journalist for 49 years for the Orland Sentinel.
He has retired and below is HIS LAST COLUMN
(The article is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat).
- By Charlie Reese
He has retired and below is HIS LAST COLUMN
(The article is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat).
- By Charlie Reese
"Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan.
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy","inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
Taxes to pass
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom, if agreed, stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'"
~ By Charlie Reese
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan.
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy","inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
Taxes to pass
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom, if agreed, stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'"
~ By Charlie Reese