The Madison Count Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget and on a proposed ad valorem tax revenue increase for fiscal year 2009 on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in the board room of the Madison County Office Complex at 125 W. North Street. Canton, Mississippi.
The Madison County Board of Supervisors is now operating with a projected total budget revenue of $59,075,686. (Forty-five percent) or $26,638,883, of such revenue is obtained through ad valorem taxes. For next fiscal year, the proposed budget has total projected revenue of $69,798,446. Of that amount, 45 percent or $31,556,839, is proposed to be financed through a total ad valorem tax levy.
For next fiscal year, the Madison County Board of Supervisors plans to increase your ad valorem tax millage rate by 3.33 mills from 32.30 mills to 35.63 mills. This increase means that you will pay more in ad valorem taxes on your home, automobile tag, utilities, business fixtures and equipment and rental real property.
Any citizen of Madison County is invited to attend this public hearing on the proposed ad valorem tax increase, and will be allowed to speak for a reasonable amount of time and offer tangible evidence before any vote is taken.
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Board of SupervisorsCounty Administrator Donnie Caughman
1.601.855.5580
Canton, MS 39046
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37 comments:
I have read in the Madison County Journal this week about a proposed tax increase for residents of Madison County. As a resident, I’m very concerned. The Board of Supervisors is spending money left and right and overextending the county with bonds. Many residents in protest of the bond for the proposed Reunion Parkway interchange (and who were in the minority) forewarned the board that this would be the result. We are now just a few months past this and here we sit being informed about a tax increase. A recession was predicted back in early spring. Gas prices were already on the rise when these decisions were made, and analysts said the peak had not yet been reached. Gas was predicted in early spring to surpass $4.00 a gallon this summer which is exactly what happened. For the county to say now that gas expenses are up around 30% more than they estimated seems irresponsible to me. They should have listened to the predictions and budgeted and planned for the rise in prices. It seems that many members of the board and community members thought Madison County was immune to the economic situation. We’ve discovered that they were wrong.
As a Madison County resident, I appreciate what the board has done for the county. However, we cannot become like the federal government and spend beyond our means especially in these tough economic times. Would I like to see the Reunion Parkway interchange? Yes, it would be nice and would help alleviate traffic on Bozeman. However, there are much more pressing projects that should be a priority such as widening of Gluckstadt Road and a new interchange there first. I’m very uncomfortable with the fact that we do not yet know where all of the money from this project is coming from or if it’s truly guaranteed. This has been pushed through at the expense of the tax payers just to please a handful of large businesses. Are our local elected officials representing the residents best interests or big businesses’? I don’t feel that all members of the board are looking far enough into the future nor are they planning wisely for our county. I am also upset that tax payers are paying for the barrier wall at Ashton Park that the developer should have been responsible for. Developers need to be held responsible for what they agreed on and contracted to do. It shouldn’t become a burden on the tax payers. And guess what – that money for the wall probably could have covered the county’s 30% increase in gas expenses.
I know your position on these issues I’ve mentioned above and thank you for speaking up on behalf of your constituents, even though it’s not the popular opinion right now. I hope that if enough residents such as I make the board aware of our concerns, they’ll take a step back and re-evaluate some of the decisions and planning they are doing for our county and its residents.
Respectfully,
Amber
I read Lucy Weber’s article regarding our Board of Supervisors considering a tax increase to help cover higher cost. I understand cost have risen. I understand fuel cost and repair and construction cost has risen. I agree we must maintain and support our public safety. What I don’t understand is how much more can taxpayers handle? Our cost have risen; our fuel cost are higher, Entergy ask for and got more, Exxon Mobile is getting much more, Kroger is getting more, Obama is going to get more, etc. Where do we get more? We can’t vote ourselves an income increase like Congress, the Mississippi Legislature, or the Madison County Board of Supervisors can. In fact, a few weeks ago at a company meeting one of my fellow employees asked the owner of our company about a cost of living increase and we were told that because our cost is up and business is slow we would not be able to get a cost of living increase. Yet Madison County wants and needs more.
Companies are experiencing higher cost and reduced revenues and several are laying off “Taxpayers”. Where are these people going to get more? I’m sure that when Billy McCoy and the rest of our so called representatives come back to Jackson they are going to want and get more. Where are we the “Taxpayers” to get more? My homeowners taxes went up a few months ago and I was told this increase would be offset by lower homeowner’s insurance rates; yet I haven’t seen a reduction yet. My home is supposedly worth less due to the “Mortgage Crisis” and the poor performance of the government instituted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, yet my homeowner’s taxes are going up?
I qualify for retirement due to disability but I am forced to continue working cause I can’t afford to live (and pay Madison Co more money) on the amount of disability that Social Security says I qualify to draw. I cannot draw my 401K because I’m to young, I cannot get welfare cause I make too much, yet Madison County wants and needs more. But Reunion will have a nice interchange.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the “public hearing” scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday September 2nd because I (like most working taxpayers) have to work. I would have loved to had the opportunity to share my feelings with the Board of Supervisors and heard a response, but, I would like my concerns read into the record if the rules allow.
Frank
stan says...
Well it's time to pay the piper as it relates to decisions made in the past year by our Board of Supervisors. On the "fly" decisions such as bond sale and barriers have cost consequences and now the Board desires freely to pass that cost onto the backs of us Madison County taxpayers that are living on retirement income. We are familiar with the cost of living as we all execute budgets monthly. When our expenses exceed our income, decisions must be made in that regard but you know that's how I treat my money; I would likely do differently if my budget was funded by someone else other than myself. The Board is making decisions with my money and not theirs which is easy. These are good times in Madison County but just think how they would be behaving if there were no increase in growth (assessed valuation of personal and real property). Based on my calculation the assessed valuation has increased some 7.4% and without a millage increase this would be the increased percentage of revenue. With this and the proposed 10.3% increase in millage rate results in an overall revenue increase of approximately 18.5%. Looks like "sock-it-to-me" time and this taxpayer has both eyes black.
Thanks for this forum,
Stan
I'm absolutley delighted (NOT) to know that I can pay more taxes to benefit the folks associated with the Reunion Parkway--and to do the landscaping that the contractor should have done on the road. Also-we've taken over the Annandale subdivision--with attendant service costs--thought their taxes were supposed to take care of this--and with the growth of Madison county--thought the increase in tax base would take care of necessary improvements--
Don't make us pay for the Board's poor financial managment!
NO MORE TAXES!
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on….or by imbeciles who really mean it.” – Mark Twain
John McCain said to compare the spending of the U.S. Congress to drunken sailors was an insult to drunken sailors. So I certainly wouldn't want to insult them further by comparing the spending of the Madison County Board of Supervisors to them. They do seem committed to spending at a voracious level. What happened to the maxim that growth would pay for all these projects that "benefit a few developers?" I think the Law Of Diminishing Returns has kicked in, and now we are going to have to pay for it.
Thank your supervisor and vote him out of office if he supports this tax increase.
I totally agree with the people on the blog - it makes no sense to keep expanding the county infrastructure by increasing taxes as continuous new construction will keep existing property appreciation very slow. Another selling point of Madison County over Hinds is our low taxes - and that appears to be going out the window.
I could see a wonderful source of revenue that would keep property taxes low if the state would let us vote on a local option sales tax to reap the benefits of our investment in retail space... But that is just a dream, I guess.
I would like to think that in the county with the highest per-capita income in the state, and the highest median home value, the county officials could operate within a budget commensurate with the resulting tax revenue. I have to operate my business that way…why shouldn’t the Board of Supervisors be required to do the same?
You may submit this comment to the Board if they’re interested.
Please vote against any tax increase; don't raise taxes.... our food has gone up; our gas; our energy; our insurance... now we don't need increased spending for unneeded projects. We need to live within our budget!
Thanks for the update on the Board of Supervisors proposed tax increase.
We are against an increase in taxes at this time. Our taxes are doubling due to the City of Madison annexation. That is enough increase for us to digest in one year especially in light of historic market driven and inflationary increases in everything from fuel to food. We need to get our citizens past these lean economic times.
The taxpayers need a break, even in Madison County, MS.
Every household and every business has to live within its means. Our local, state, and Federal government should do the same. While I am glad to participate in this great Republic by paying my fair share of taxes, I believe the time has come for a belt tightening rather than a tax increase. After all, taxpayers can't just ask for a raise because things cost more--they have to make do with less. A tax increase means taxpayers will have to do with less, not more. Let's all share the burden by NOT raising taxes.
DI,
I am opposed to a tax increase. Our taxes are high enough already. I appreciate that you weren't in office when decisions were made that led to some of the problems, and I know you are now having to deal with them. Still, I would encourage the county to find a way to live within its means.
I appreciate your service in your current office.
The Federal Government has no money. The state government has no money. The county government has no money. The city government has no money. Only the citizens have money.
Please let us keep what we have.
Thanks, D.I. for keeping us informed.
I, like many others, won't be able to attend the BOS meeting on this issue because I must still work to make ends meet for our household.
In my past experience, additional costs for infrastructure due to growth in housing developments and business parks/retail space is assessed against the developers, not the existing tax base. Since the county is either insufficiently staffed or inexperienced in collecting on these types of contract considerations, the BOS might consider adding a person whose responsibility it would be to make sure these assessments are included in deals with developers and collected. Paying $45,000.00 a year to collect the $32,000,000.00 a year would be a wise investment. Would the taxpayers rather share the 0.14% cost for that service or foot the entire $32M? Hmmm?
Please share this with the entire Board of Supervisors. You all have made this county a desirable place to live and profitable place to construct new developments, now all of you need to consider your constituents - those who own homes & businesses, pay taxes and vote for you.
Madison County Taxes may soon Skyrocket (Ltr, Northside Sun, Aug 28, 2008)
Dear Editor:
You have to find some degree of irony in the fact that the Madison County Board of Supervisors has chosen September 2 at 9 a.m. to hold a public hearing on the county’s proposed budget. Labor Day originated in 1882 as "a day
off for the working man." By scheduling the meeting at 9 a.m., the board virtually assures that most working men and women will be unable to attend the meeting which will involve a discussion of the first tax increase in Madison
County in over 20 years – yet another not too subtle dig at the average working man and woman at a time when most working families are struggling to pay for roceries, medicines, fuel, and children’s educations.
“Wait just a minute,” you might say. Isn’t this also the argument being made by the county? Expenses have gone up tremendously. When cornered by the press after the last board meeting, County Administrator Donnie Caughman
whipped out his crib sheet of quick responses to prove that a proposed 3.33 mil tax increase was necessary to cover increased expenses such as fuel and asphalt. When asked about the 5.3 percent increase in the value of all taxed
property in Madison County, Mr. Caughman responded that the revenue
reaped from that indirect tax increase was already consumed by the additional cost of doing business. Well, you do the quick and dirty math. The property
tax collections, which include the price of our car tags, for 2007-2008 were budgeted at $25,813,441. A5.3 percent increase in the value of this tax base
would be an additional $1,368,112. Now even if you have a dozen Hummers sitting in your driveway, that’s still a lot of extra cash for gas money. Another item blamed by Mr. Caughman for the increased taxation was a $400,000 needed increase in the Sheriff’s Department budget. Yet no one mentioned that the last 16 Sheriff’s Department vehicles replaced this year were given to
the city of Canton rather than sold to recoup department expenses. Certainly,
the sale may have generated only $40,000 for the Sheriff’s Department, but that would be $40,000 not coming out of the taxpayer’s pocket.
THIS IS JUST one example of fiscal short sightedness on the part of the board. If you would like a few more examples, then, as the bard said, “let me count the ways”:
1. The $700,000 hole in the county budget due to a deficit at the beginning of the current fiscal year that will result in $700,000 less in the next fiscal year
unless it is replenished;
2. The Ashton Park wall – a $300,000 [low ball estimate] fence to be built on private property;
3. The Reunion Parkway - funded with only $17 million in the recent $33 million bond issue with an additional $6 million coming from MDOT and $6 million from as yet unnamed mystery donor(s) - leaving at least $11 million
of the $40 million plus project unfunded with no hint yet of federal funding despite a full-time lobbyist complete with salary and expense account paid for
by the taxpayer;
4. The debt servicing of the $33 million bond issue - approximately $2.5 million per year;
5. The most recent plan to shave down a hill at the scene of a terrible accident – $300,000 that begs the question, “Could more law enforcement, increased tickets and fines, higher auto insurance for offenders, and keys confiscated
by parents do a better job in long term behavior modification?”;
6. Deliberations that seem to favor a fortunate few rather than the entire county - including certain cities with more access to county funding for city projects than other cities; and
7. Paying ever increasing engineering fees – a review of the monthly Madison County claims docket printed in one of the local papers indicates over $5 million paid out in the last 21 months in engineering fees.
If you are keeping count, that makes approximately $3.8 million in projects and deficits for items 1-5 alone with still other projects and expenses outstanding.
As a rule of thumb, a one mil tax will generate $1 million dollars for the county. So we end up with 3.8 mils being spent on these few items so far, and the board is asking for a 3.33 mil increase – for now. But the story may
not be over even after all of this. With fully a third of the Reunion project still unfunded, other projects in the works, increasing engineering and other costs, and a declining economy, don’t be surprised if the final tax increase, after all the posturing and hand wringing, comes out to be more like 5-6 mils instead of 3.33 mils. Also bear in mind, this tax increase doesn’t include city taxes or school taxes – where there is a 2.5 mils increase being considered for the
Canton School District. So if you’re one of the lucky property owners recently annexed into the city of Madison, you can look forward to your tax bill
increasing by at least 33 percent as you absorb the new city taxes and the increased county taxes.
In fact about the only silver lining in this litany of ineptitude, is the fact that
Democrats in the county can now breathe a sigh of relief. For decades now everyone has been told that it was the “evil, liberal Democrats” who capriciously
raised taxes and mismanaged money. Now it seems that the first tax
increase in 20 years in Madison County will pass with the votes of
Republican board members leading the way. Like their post Labor Day public hearing without the working public, this is just another demonstration of the insensitivity the Madison County Board of Supervisors continues to show
toward the working man and woman and the taxpayers who elected them to office. My advice to my fellow average citizens in Madison County is to get informed, get mad, and get to the public meeting on September 2, if at all possible.
Michael J. Smith
Ridgeland
Decrease, Not Increase Taxes in Madison County
(Clarion Ledger Ltr, Aug 29, 2009
A few months back, Madison County Supervisor Tim Johnson assured the taxpayers that approval of his bond issue to build the Reunion Parkway interchange would not result in a tax increase. He thumbed his nose at waiting for state and federal funds for the project and proceeded to issue the bond.
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Now he is ready to take the blame, while letting his constituents pay for his folly.
Mr. Johnson is obviously not aware that we are in a recession and that a larger percent of homeowners are failing to pay their taxes in Madison County and are in jeopardy of losing their homes and/or property.
He and his fellow supervisors need to read the minutes of the early 1930s supervisor meetings and see what real men did to help their fellow citizens as a recession was developing into a depression. These minutes are in the basement of the Chancery Court building and will give them a lesson in how to combat a recession.
Anything less than a decrease in taxes will be detrimental to the health and well-being of the county.
Jerry A. Thomas
Ridgeland
Just as citizens must live within the budgets available to them, the County must make cuts to live within the money currently available. With foreclosures on the rise, job loses, no cost of living raisings from employers, and rising costs at the pump, grocery, etc, Madison County's citizens cannot be asked to give more. The County should do more to cut costs before asking for more money.
I am also wondering why the Sheriff's department needs additonal funding when a larger portion of the County is controlled (and patrolled) by the City of Madison.
How much could be saved by removing curb-side recycling? How much could be saved by eliminating tax reinvestment zones that benefit commercial developments and limited the taxes paid into the general fund?
There are so many points that can be made, but others have made them better than I could.
I am against a tax increase.
I strongly oppose the Madison county tax increase. Given the fact that housing values have fallen, and many have not, and will not be able to afford to pay for reappraisals in order to help reduce applied taxes, this needs to be stopped. Residents of this area are often labeled as a group of "affluents", and are a target for everything from overpriced, undervalued services, to what we're dealing with here -- taxes. It's a form of financial discrimination that many families simply cannot afford to be a subjected to.
If Elvis raises my taxes, I am going to do everything I can to get him beat in the next election. My taxes have already gone up with the annexation.
DI,
As a new member of the city of Madison, I am happy to now be part of one of the best cities in this State or the South for that matter. However, with the increased taxes that are coming mine and Stacey's way, I am trying to determine what benefits we are actually receiving. We are not concerned about an additional day of garbage pickup - we certainly did not receive any type of insurance reduction as the insurer's already knew where we lived and truthfully did not care if we were in the city or not - we are not in significant need of the Madison police presence that one can easily see since incorporation as it only equates to more tickets and not necessarily more safety/less crime (our neighborhood is already gated and the county sheriff patrolled it effectively before and still does). We will certainly support the laws and tax requirements of the city but have reasonable questions as to what we are receiving in return for our increased taxes. While thinking about what changes to the city are needed, the one thing that jumps out to me is that Hwy 463 (whether it is four lanes or two) need appropriate lighting. Based on the speed of the traffic and the curves and turns into neighborhoods this truly is a dangerous road. Don't know what the County can do and assume this is now a City function.....please advise as to what group has jurisdiction over installing lighting on Hwy 463 as I would like to have discussions with them on the subject.
As a Madison county resident and Madison county business owner, I strongly oppose the tax increase. The county must manage expenses like your constituents have to when faced with adversity. Residents are already facing increased gasoline, utility and food cost coupled with a slowing housing market. The last thing we need right now is another increase in our expenses. Thank you for voting against a tax increase.
Good Morning, Mr. Smith,
Thank you for taking on the responsibility of representing the residents of Madison county.
Regarding the proposed tax increase, my husband and I would plead with the county leaders to balance the budget already in place. Surely the county can follow the same path as homeowners. As we are finding costs all around us rising, but our income is diminishing, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce our spending. Sadly, we, unlike the county, do not have the opportunity to demand a greater income (from those who have less than we).
Rising costs are threatening many of us. As citizens of the county, we plead with our leaders to recognize that this is a time when the citizens, more than at any time in many decades, are desperately counting on the leadership to help us survive, not to raise taxes and thereby put us at further peril of losing our homes.
We challenge our leaders to examine all areas of spending and ascertain where there is excess, lack of accountability, or poor management, and then tighten the current budget. Certainly, both the government and the people of Madison county would benefit from such a course of action.
Sincerely,
Dear DI:
Thanks for the update on the tax issue. As a tax payer in Madison County, I, too, find it very disturbing a meeting will be held at a time most of us have to work; especially after a storm. Maybe "they" will reconsider only because of the storm since many are displaced and many of our fine folks are helping to take care of our neighboring friends at shelters. In fact, I think it would be a great idea for "those" who scheduled such a meeting to volunteer their time at some of the shelters around OUR county..
Once again DI, thank you for being part of OUR county and not apart from it. I wish you and your the absolute best. We depend on you to keep us informed.
Best regards,
This 6.33 milage increase on the Citizens of Madison County is crazy. We are spending to much money on projects that are designed to enrich the wealthy land owners in the area. Two projects that need to be killed. The Reunion Parkway Interchane and Calhoun Station. We allready have to many half filled strip malls and undeveloped commercial property in the area. I do not want to live in a County filled with vacant store fronts. We need to slow down. I will gladly work to defeat the 50M bond issue and repeal the milage increase.
I do not understand how it is suppose to be law that the County must advertise for a certain number of days prior to making these types of decisions that affect all of the County Taxpayers can arbitrary double the amount of increases it originally proposed. Maybe I am missing something? We have operated a business for 18 years in Gluckstadt, MS. Not one dime has been spent to improve Our interchange at I-55 and Gluckstadt Road. All this tax increase is (as I see it) is a way for The City of Madison to finance the Reunion Interchange that is really not needed. The residential and commercial markets in Madison County are saturated as it is. All the more reason to hold off on The Reunion Interchange and focus efforts on the Gluckstadt Interchange and Gluckstadt Road on out to Hwy. 463 where developments are already constructed. I would appreciate your comments regarding this confusion.
Madison County taxpayers have been hit by a storm called “Madison County Board of Supervisors” this morning by approving a tax increase. The advertised Public Hearing this morning was to discuss a tax increase of 3.33 mills. The tax increase was approved by a vote of 3-2 (Tim Johnson, Karl Banks, & Paul Griffin for and DI Smith and John Bell Crosby against).
The County Administrator Donnie Caughman announced an additional 3 mills of new expenditures so the approved increase grew from 3.33 mills to 6.33 mills.
Excellent coverage. What a shame, tho', that people don't know who orchestrated the vote for the bonds sale that helped create the 'need' for extra taxes.
Thanks for voting against the millage rate increase.
As The Clarion-Ledger editoral said today, a re-vote is in order. I hope you will push for it.
Dear Supervisors of Madison County:
I am outraged at the way you have treated the residents of Madison County with respect to the tax rate increase you recently voted into place. I understand that all of you did not favor this increase, however, you should all know the feelings of your neighbors, so I’m sending this message to every supervisor.
It is a disgrace that you would increase our taxes to this degree without first spending lots of time researching other methods to accomplish your goal of county infrastructure that would have resulted in less of a tax increase. Partnerships have worked in the past for such issues in our county and you chose to ignore that.
I intend to vigorously campaign against each of you that voted for the tax increase the next time you choose to run for any office of any kind. Clearly, you cannot be trusted to act in the best interest of the voters who placed you in office.
I have heard that Mary Hawkins, Mayor of Madison, is denying any knowledge of a plan to raise county taxes to pay for projects that were originally touted by certain Madison County politicians as “not requiring a tax increase”. This reminds me a great deal of the classic scene in Casablanca where police Captain Renault, played by Claude Rains, declares while standing in Rick’s casino that “I am shocked, shocked that there is gambling going on in Rick’s!” Only to have the casino cashier walk up and say “your winnings Captain Renault”.
I suppose someone could expect to have the cost of their city infrastructure supplemented with county funds. I suppose someone could expect to annex large neighborhoods while promising road improvement paid for by the county, and I suppose someone could expect construction of a tremendously expensive parkway interchange project on their doorstep paid for again with county funding. I suppose someone could actually believe that the county money was just never going to run out. But I give Mayor Hawkins more credit than that. In fact, people seem to continually underestimate Mayor Hawkins. Many people have already forgotten that a few years ago Mayor Hawkins was not happy with the proposal for spending a large school bond passed by the voters. Like all good mayors, she wanted more of the money spent in her city. Suddenly, for some still unknown reason, the Justice Department appeared with a court order to stop the use of the bond money until it was determined that the spending was fair for all concerned. The school board’s plan was later proved in court to be appropriate, but by then the lengthy court proceedings had cost the school system thousands of dollars in delayed constructions costs and legal fees – money that could have been spent on Madison County students.
The city of Madison has managed to recoup a fair percentage of the county taxes paid by its citizens over the years by receiving county funding for road projects in and around the city of Madison. By contrast, the city of Ridgeland has received only pennies on the dollar for the large amount of county taxes paid by its residents. This can be seen in the county budget comparison provided by the Board of Supervisors. Madison received 78% of the county road money in 2007, 38% in 2008 [still the lion’s share], and will receive 61% in 2009. Of the fifteen road projects proposed in the new [second] $50 million dollar bond issue, 48% of those project or either in the city of Madison or on its doorstep – basically Supervisor District 2. The Board of Supervisors has demonstrated an unwillingness to live within a budget or to say no to pet projects. Now, unless the people speak up, the Madison County taxpayers must suffer an incredible tax burden, while one small piece of the county continues to collect its winnings.
The only way out of this mess is to go back to the beginning. The Board of Supervisors needs to reopen public meetings and schedule them at a time when working men and women – the taxpayers and their constituents – can attend. Everything should be on the table for review – even the Reunion Parkway Interchange that started this mess. Finally, the Reunion Interchange Parkway project should be shelved unit the economic climate in the state and the country has improved. The $14 million slated for that project can be better spent on projects that promote safety and address real needs – like the Gluckstadt interchange and the neglected streets in the Annandale community. Both of these projects are included in the Board of Supervisors’ second $50 million dollar bond issue, and there won’t be any more bond issues in Madison County without a vote by its citizens.
Michael Smith
I am trying to figure out how you even begin to dream up increasing property taxes 20% period. Not to mention the rising cost of living, including gas prices, food prices etc. People might have been able to understand an increase but this is ridiculous. If anyone of you that receives this email can give me honest answer of how a 20% INCREASE is going to help the city then let me have it.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW I FELT ABOUT THIS.
Pass this along to whoever cares, obviously you guys don't care about the average people when you propose to do something like this.
Common Citizen
How sad....Madison is voted Top 100 Cities in America in which to live and this is the way it's citizens are treated. I am totally against this tax increase and am saddened that the citizens' best interests were not taken into consideration. It's all about a dollar. Why not try uniting Madison instead of dividing it. Afterall, it's the citizens that make Madison what it is today!!
Angie
Thanks for voting No on the tax increase.
Thanks,
Jeremy
What time and where is the board meeting? I hope, and request that the time be after work so the real tax paying citizens that this is effecting can be there in force. I need to send out e-mails to let people know what time and where.
Thanks
As always, thank you for your leadership on this issue. I have emailed my opposition to Supervisors Johnson, Griffin and Banks. They should be ashamed.
My wife and I just recently moved to Madison. We are retired but have lived in a number of communities in several states. We thought that of the two public meetings we wanted to attend here in Madison, both were scheduled at an inopportune time for the public. What we are hearing sounds like a train whistle to us. Everyone likes power and some of those in power around here appear to want to keep it; they do things in the dark so they can stay in charge. People, get with the program! Time to derail this railroad. Seems like we had a tea party once due to taxation without representation.
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