Jail millage in voters hands

Mad Taxpayer wrote:

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Look , food, utilities, school supplies, gas, all going up. The citizens need every penny they can get right now just to get by. We expect CUTS. That is what we have been doing for months ! The scare tactics aren't going to work ! Share in the pain. Things cannot go on like they used to . TIMES HAVE CHANGED !!! VOTE NO ON ALL MILLAGES !!!

These same cost increases affect your government as well. It speaks well of the County to request a lower millage (due to Headlee) than we are currently paying, particularly given the Mayor's threats. When it comes to public safety you can pay now or you can pay in your neighborhood with more crime.

MrMunkey wrote:

Yeah leave it to the County to try to "STICK IT TO US"again.We are SICK & TIRED of being "TAXED TO DEATH"here in Michigan,especially with the high unemployment,Bad Foreclosure situation and every other Tax Granholm (Gov Greedy)& the state has stuck to us due to their Shameful spending (Wasting) ways the state has blown money! People are leaving here in GROVES and we're expected to "Pick-Up"all the pieces and fix it all??I THINK NOT! They best do with what they have and stop coming after Us P.O'd taxpayers Here in Grand Rapids and in the entire State! Hats off to you Mayor Heartwell for telling them off! I agree 100%!!!!!!!!!

Mayor Heartwell is "telling them off" because the County is not requesting a LARGE enough millage. He wants the County to tax you more. Didn't the Mayor support the GRCC millage? Twice?

Jail Bird wrote:

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And look how well public schools are doing these days. Keep voting no, maybe we can house are uneducated criminal at your house.

Public schools are rolling in money. If they are so broke, why do they pay their superintendents 200K per year and give their teachers and administrators and their entire families free health care for life? Why do they also build these palatial buildings and extravagant offices and athletic facilities?

Public schools = taxpayer ripoff. I vote NO on ALL public school millages. They have plenty of money - they just mismanage and waste it.

Jail Bird wrote:

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And look how well public schools are doing these days. Keep voting no, maybe we can house are uneducated criminal at your house.

Public schools are doing quite well.

When is the last time you saw a school superintendent take a pay cut? Or the teachers? What about the Caledonia superintendent who admitted embezzling all that money a couple years ago? If Kentwood is so broke, why do they have a massive state-of-the-art ice arena and brand spanking new football stadium?

Public schools are doing so well that they seem to be the only ones not affected by the economy, because they are experts at ripping off the taxpayers and then crying and weeping about how much they are supposedly suffering.

GR Township Resident wrote:

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These same cost increases affect your government as well. It speaks well of the County to request a lower millage (due to Headlee) than we are currently paying, particularly given the Mayor's threats. When it comes to public safety you can pay now or you can pay in your neighborhood with more crime.

You will see. The people are ready to take their chances. This Millage WILL FAIL !

GR Township Resident wrote:

GR TOWNSHIP residents ALONG with Ada and Cascade pay for the enchanced road patrol - TOGETHER. Forest Hills and the East Beltline are in Grand Rapids Township - sounds like the road patrol is right where it is suppose to be.
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Well, then explain the response times my friend! I looked all over GR Twp's website and found nothing, nor do I know nothing living in the township. Please prove me wrong and show some facts.

VOTE NO.

I agree about the double taxation. Now lets talk about the double taxation for garbage removal. We pay a portion of our property taxes for garbage removal and then hae to buy bags or a container to haul my weekly garbage away.

4 Justice wrote:

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Well, then explain the response times my friend! I looked all over GR Twp's website and found nothing, nor do I know nothing living in the township. Please prove me wrong and show some facts.

"East Precinct
The year 2006 marked the successful completion of the fourth year of the East Precinct Project. The Precinct Concept is based on a unique partnership between law enforcement and township government, designed specifically to address the needs and concerns of the participating townships. With its development, the East Precinct now provides Cascade, Grand Rapids, and Ada Townships with an enhanced staffing program, including the position of Precinct Lieutenant, 2 additional Shift Sergeants, one additional Detective, 2 School Resource Officers, and 2 Community Policing Officers. Patrol coverage in the East Precinct is based on a roaming patrol of all three townships, rather than the previous restricted township patrol program. Any additional costs required to operate this enhanced program is shared between the three townships and is based on the percentage of calls taken within each township."

4 Justice, I looked at the Sheriff's website and found the aforementioned. It sounds like you don't really know what you are talking about.

I think if the jail is falling apart,let the prisoners pick up a hammer and nails, and start doing the time, the way it should be served.
Bring back the chain gangs.
They have it so rough,that when they get out, they want to get back in.
Bring in that sheriff from Texas, and let them live in tents, while they serve their time.
Jail life is like living at a Holiday Inn.

Jan wrote:

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Public schools are rolling in money. If they are so broke, why do they pay their superintendents 200K per year and give their teachers and administrators and their entire families free health care for life? Why do they also build these palatial buildings and extravagant offices and athletic facilities?
Public schools = taxpayer ripoff. I vote NO on ALL public school millages. They have plenty of money - they just mismanage and waste it.

It's so easy to generalize about government waste - far more difficult to actually find it. Consider a superintendent like a CEO of a company - in charge of million dollar + budget. Look at what GM, Chrysler, etc - their CEO's make. Now I'm not saying superintendents should make 10+ million a year, but 200K is not an outrageous amount.

And yeh.... its far better to have our kids go to school and learn in mud and straw huts than decent buildings.

If it pisses you off so much then how about you go to school and get an education degree and go work as a teacher.

Everybody is having to make cuts except Government it seems. Time for them to cut too. Put more prisoners in a cell if they have to. Prisoners have more rights than I do. Time to get tough. I'll vote no. I'll never vote yes for any tax.

michael g wrote:

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So, let's see. They shouldn't be in jail. They don't even have $100, so we can't fine them. What SHOULD we do??? Give them the key to the city?

Hahaha, do you really think that the court system goes, "Oh hey, I see that you're finacially strapped, so we won't give you a fine."

Typically jail time includes fines.

You're being lied to by all parties. The county is lying when they say they will release prisoners and close wings if the millage doesn't pass. The county has millions in reserves and real estate holdings. But, the mayors are lying, too, when they say the're paying double. They only get charged for housing inmates because they chose to run their own courts outside the stste system, which allows the cities to keep all the fines. Why should a different unit of govt. house their inmates for free, while the cities keep the fines?

Hold on. Doesn't the government think the people are on a BUDGET? Every time I hear the government is over budget and they need more money it makes me sick. I can't just ask for money because I went over budget.

If the expiring millage was suppose to be used to build the new jail, then why would any jobs be lost if the millage fails? The funds to pay salaries should be from a different opperating millage. All I know is that many families are haveing a hard time paying the mortgage, let alone the property taxes. More forclosers do not help any one. Lets get creative in reducing the jail population. More use of house arrest and electronic monitoring for non violent offenders including those who violate city ordinance laws. Perhaps community service for people who do not pay traffic fines or taxes. Community service could even include helping to renovate and repair the old jail so it could last until we can afford to rebuild it.

Here's a thought, Why not make those put behind bars pay. After all I don't get 3 meals a day for free, with free utiilities. Maybe no one gets out without paying up or getting a loan or borrowing from their druggie friend stash. Why should I, who has never been to jail have to pay for the service I'm not using????

I think they should get thier millage, just not now. Who can afford to pay more for anything???

You need to read the the comments by the Grand Rapids Business Journal this week. "Jail Issue No Bargaining Chip" it BLAST the Mayors for being a gang of thugs.. the Mayors know that we need to vote YES on this millage renew.. they just want to blackmail the County because they cant get what they want.. and it calls Mayor Root a "Bully". I will vote YES !! all of you need to read GRBJ very to the point..

john wrote:

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Well geez, tobe truthful, half the people in kent County Jail are there for petty crimes. Like child support, trespassing, disorderly conduct,dui, suspended license, I feel they should not be in jail for petty crimes like that. And another thing most of them people have not even been sentenced yet. most just cant make a $100 bail.

Wait until you are a victim of a "Petty" crime. Then see if it only feels "Petty". Wait until your family is hit and killed by a someone driving under the influence with a suspended license. Then you tell me if DUI is petty. Wait until you lead a youth program full of hungry children because their dead beat dads are paying their mothers anything. Then tell me if child support is "petty". Wait until someone enters your property without your permission, then tell me if it is "petty". I've been a victim of crime six times. I'm sick of criminals. Lock them all up. Better yet BANG! Problem sovled.