Letter to the Editor: More response to the McMillan levy
Dear editor,
This letter is in response to the Town of McMillan flyer recently sent to all residents regarding the 2019 tax levy. This flyer, when expenses are added up, cost the taxpayers several thousand dollars to produce and send. But the flyer must have passed the smell test. McMillan Clerk Tanya Holcomb stated at the board meeting, when the flyer was voted on, that it was reviewed and approved by the board’s personal attorney. That for sure gave it a gold star.
Here are a few points to be made about the flyer’s information. First, the flyer discusses the state levy limit law. That’s correct. But that doesn’t mean the limit has to be taken if not needed. I saw this same maneuvering time and time again while employed at WisDot. Departments would be scrambling to spend their current budget, no matter how frivolously, to make sure they didn’t lose dollars in the next budget. Only to keep future money coming in they really didn’t need. McMillan is basically doing the same thing by keeping a surplus slush fund to store money and keep the levy at maximum.
Factual information in Mr. Oertel’s recent letter to the editor indicates eight years of surpluses. I just don’t see any justification for continued surpluses. The problem for the town board is they’re going to have their future revenue cap reduced if the electors have their way. This particular board can’t seem to function without a slush fund and collecting/spending any revenue they can get their hands on.
If any of you have access to a copy of the board attorney’s email dated Nov. 13, read the last paragraph. What he’s pointing out to the board is the levy candy store might be closed down by lower revenue caps for quite some time if the electors have their say in forcing the board to live within a reasonable budget. The board can’t have that!!
Second, I’m tired of hearing this load of crap that only 4.5 percent of the population (90 electors) was in attendance for the Nov. 13 electors levy meeting, and that’s the board’s reasoning for forcing a reconsideration. Fact is for the 2018 electors levy meeting there were 17 electors present. Do the math! How many percent of the population was present and voted on that levy? Did the board spend thousands of tax dollars for a reconsideration move? Of course not. Those 17 electors approved the board’s bloated 2018 levy so no problem there!
Third, the electors are getting the scare tactic information thrown at them again. As I have stated before, the board is receiving aid to provide snow plowing and emergency services. Failure to provide these services while receiving these aids will result in the loss of the aids and or the state sending in county assets to accomplish the work. Do you really think the town is going to let GTA dollars slip out of their hands? And what do you think the town’s insurance carrier will do when it is liable for the town’s actions if something bad happens on these purposely unmaintained roads?
Finally, I noticed the board’s personal attorney wasn’t mentioned as a cut. I’m assuming the board either can’t operate without his services or just overlooked him as a cut when they drafted the flyer.
Hope to see you all at the Dec. 7 meeting.
Michael Joyce
Town of McMillan
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