Inside: Howell skates toward glory
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Volume 166 Number 42
Friday-Saturday, February 18-19, 2011
ECONOMY
Proposed budget plan cuts deep
Communities stand to
lose revenue money
By Christopher Behnan
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Three Livingston County com-
munities would lose their share of
$300 million in shared revenues to
fund local services under Gov.
Rick Snyder’s budget for the fis-
cal year that begins Oct. 1.
The state shares a constitution-
ally required amount of sales-tax
revenue with local governments
on a per-capita basis and by a
MICHIGAN
A joint House and Senate committee meeting Thursday
brought the details of the governor’s 2012 budget plan.
Exemption eliminations
has seniors seeing red
By Frank Konkel
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
County seniors seethed in re-
sponse to portions of Gov. Rick
Snyder’s budget proposal Thurs-
day, specifically his plan to elimi-
nate income-tax exemptions for
pensions and retirement accounts,
such as IRAs.
Removing the retirement in-
come-tax exemption would gener-
ate almost $1 billion in additional
revenue for the state, which is con-
INSIDE
Get more in-depth coverage of Gov.
Rick Snyder’s, right, battle plan for the
state budget on pages 4A-6A:
• See the details of the plan presented
Thursday on page 4A.
• Axing the Michigan Business Tax sits
well with some county business owners.
See page 5A.
• Our Editorial: The gover-
nor’s budget is harsh but
necessary because previous
administrations have duck-
ed the responsibility of put-
ting Michigan on the right
track. See page 6A.
Online:
Visit www.livingstondaily.com
to see our photo gallery from
the awards ceremony at the
Brighton chamber of commerce.
Inside:
Troopers with the Brighton post
of the Michigan State Police
conducted a child-safety-seat
inspection. County, page 3A.
NOW
PINCKNEY
smaller, statutory formula for dis-
tributing sales-tax revenue.
Snyder on Thursday called for
elimination of $300 million in statu-
tory revenue sharing normally split
among some 500 municipalities —
including the cities of Howell and
Brighton and Fowlerville Village,
local officials said.
Snyder called for setting aside
$200 million in shared revenues
Continued on page 5
Photo by AL GOLDIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS
sidered to have one of the most gen-
erous policies among states with an
income tax.
Yet don’t tell that to Livingston
County seniors, many of whom
said they’re struggling to stay af-
loat financially as it is.
“I’ll tell you what, if they tax
pensions, it will really hurt a lot of
households,” 84-year-old Roberta
Amburgey said Thursday between
hands of cribbage.
Continued on page 5
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Loss of funding would
‘destroy’ local schools
By Sarah K. Norris more than $4 million next year.
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS Pinckney Community Schools
Superintendent Dan Danosky said
Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget for the proposed cuts to school fund-
2012 proposes deep cuts across the ing would “destroy” school opera-
board, but some of the deepest cuts tions, which have already been
will come at the expense of public progressively reduced each year.
schools, which could lose another “I’ve been here for five years,
$300 per pupil in state funding. and I know we’ve dramatically cut
That’s on top of the $170 per every year I’ve been here,” Dano-
Photo by AL GOLDIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS pupil in school funding has already sky said.
Gov. Rick Snyder talks about his budget proposal during been cut. Those cuts would cost
a joint House and Senate committee meeting Thursday. some Livingston County schools Continued on page 5
COMMUNITY
Brighton steps up to cancer battle
Relay For Life 2011
kicks off campaign
By Frank Konkel
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
The Brighton Relay For Life
kicked off its 2011 campaign this
week, inviting teams and future
walkers to The Opera House in Ho-
well for some early motivation.
Cancer survivors and those who
are still fighting the disease an-
swered the call in droves.
“I Relay for everyone who is
fighting this horrible disease,”
said cancer survivor John Von Arx
during the kickoff’s Call to Ac-
tion. “We will beat it!”
Von Arx was buoyed by another
Livingston County cancer sur-
vivor, Linda Mayleben, who spoke
about her battle against breast can-
cer, and Chris Wetzel, a caregiver
to her son and mother who also
spoke.
Jennifer Acker, community rep-
resentative for the American Can-
cer Society, said the kickoff went
“extremely well.” In all, 29 teams
and a host of other supporters
gathered at the event.
“We had two fantastic speakers
that really pulled at the heartstrings
of people and helped get them
motivated,” Acker said. “That’s
what the kickoff is designed to (do)
— to get people educated and
thinking about the future and how
they can make a difference.”
The Brighton Relay For Life
has made quite a difference over
the years, generating $125,000
last year and $160,000 in 2009 —
all of which went to the American
Cancer Society.
Acker said the money helps
with research, advocacy and find-
ing a cure for cancer.
This year’s Brighton Relay For
Life will be held at Howell Public
Schools’ Parker Campus in Marion
Township instead of its customary
location of Brighton High School.
Photos by ALAN WARD/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
“I Relay for everyone who is fighting this horrible disease. We will beat it,” said
Continued on page 7
To view our photo gallery,
go to livingstondaily.com.
John Von Arx during the Call To Action at the Relay For Life kickoff event in Howell.
Organizers
AT A GLANCE for this year’s
• This year’s Brighton Relay For Life will be held at Howell Public Brighton
Schools’ Parker Campus in Marion Township instead of at Brighton Relay For Life
High School. The 24-hour Brighton Relay For Life will be held June launch their
4-5. Elsewhere in the county, the Hartland Township Relay For Life program at
is scheduled for May 21-22 at Hartland High School. The Opera
• To register or for more information on either Relay For Life House in
event set this year, contact Jennifer Acker at (248) 663-3509. Howell on
Wednesday.
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 Friday, February 18, 2011-DAILY PRESS & ARGUS 5A

THE BUDGET BATTLE PLAN

Communities stand to lose shared funding in proposal

Continued from page 1
ECONOMY
for cities, villages and townships
who exhibit “best practice,” in
this case agreeing to share servic-
es with other communities, am-
ong other sacrifices.
Business owner likes some state budget ideas
Howell stands to lose up to By Jim Totten donating to public universities. he saw all the details.
$126,000 in revenue sharing, the DAILY PRESS & ARGUS Sova also supports Snyder’s proposal to However, Boss said he came up with his
current amount of statutory fund- get rid of the state Earned Income Tax own plan to resolve the state’s budget crisis
ing the city receives — a hit that Brighton accountant Matt Sova is glad Credit. He said the federal government several years ago and proposed it during a
could require staff reductions, to see Gov. Rick Snyder proposing to get has studied the credit and concluded it’s discussion with elected state officials.
said City Manager Shea Charles. rid of the Michigan Business Tax. one of the most abused credits in the sys- Boss said the state should make an
Charles said Snyder’s incen- “Both were just atrocious taxes,” Sova tem. He said the state can’t afford these across-the-board cut to all departments to
tive-based formula, expected to be said about the business tax and its prede- credits in its current budget crisis. He said eliminate the deficit.
unveiled in March, puts local gov- cessor, the Single Business Tax. the state has been offering this credit only “A politician can do that because it
ernments in a tough spot because He works with clients who won’t make for a few years. doesn’t take guts,” Boss said.
most, if not all, are already facing a profit but must still pay taxes, which When it comes to eliminating state He said the next step would be the hard
massive taxable-value losses. doesn’t make any sense, he said. income-tax exemption for pensions, Sova part, which is deciding what programs
“It’s a very disappointing pro- “Why don’t they just have a tax on prof- said he didn’t have an immediate response. might need more money and how to raise
posal. We at the local level have its?” he asked. He said there are many retired residents, those revenues.
borne the brunt of the state bal- Under Snyder’s proposal, the state would and making changes that affect their pock- “I think it’s a fair way,” Boss said,
ancing the budget for the last 10 eliminate the state business tax and replace etbooks would create the most anger about adding, “Everyone is getting cut.”
years,” Charles said. it with a flat 6 percent corporate-income the governor’s proposal. Sova also noted When he mentioned his idea to the
“Now, the very real possibility tax. The move would give businesses a $1.8 he has many clients who are retired. Matt Sova group of elected officials three years ago,
is we might not be able to achieve billion tax break, larger than the $1.5 billion “It’s a gutsy move,” Sova said. Sova said Michigan has watched an he said some people loved it, but he added
these incentives,” he added. Snyder originally estimated the switch Looking at it strictly from the state’s exodus of people leaving the state, and it’s his plan would “never fly.”
Howell reached its total rev- would cost. Snyder’s proposal adds $1.7 position, Sova said he could understand important to take steps to make it an at- “Nobody has the guts to propose it,” he
enue-sharing peak of $1.08 million billion to revenues by eliminating tax the move. He said Michigan has one of the tractive place for businesses. was told.
in 2001, and this year received breaks for pensioners and low-income most generous tax systems for retirees, Dan Boss, owner of Boss Engineering Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter
$711,003 in shared revenues, he workers and getting rid of many other and he wondered how many retired people firm in Genoa Township, declined to com- Jim Totten at (517) 548-7088 or at jtot-
added. Charles estimated that income-tax deductions, such as one for would actually be affected by the changes. ment on Snyder’s budget proposals until ten@gannett.com.
would be reduced to $585,000
without statutory funds.
Charles and state Rep. Bill Ro- “I feel Livingston County is The companies’ profits will go peting for a portion of shared-rev- higher-education programs into low-income families, saying the tax
gers, R-Genoa Township, ques- exemplary in all this stuff. We back into the utility systems, enue dollars. Denby is a former the K-12 fund. break has kept many out of poverty.
tioned if Livingston County and its have been doing it from a county which will save the participating Handy Township supervisor. Rogers questioned how that Rogers noted that elimination of
municipalities would be rewarded and local prospective in the last townships money, he explained. She agreed, however, that Liv- would work, considering commu- the state’s contribution to the pro-
in the incentive program for efforts eight to 10 years,” he said. “This, by example, is exactly ingston County communities have nity college and university stu- gram will leave the federal contri-
already in place or under way. Genoa Township Supervisor what the governor is talking already made significant cost- dents pay tuition, while public bution to the tax break in place. He
They pointed to achievements, Gary McCririe said all communi- about,” McCririe said. sharing moves. school students do not. said the homestead-tax exemption
including the county’s top bond ties statewide shouldn’t have been “There are zero surprises here. “I think Livingston County “This is a whole different dy- and personal income-tax credit —
rating, and the use of fire authori- surprised at all by Snyder’s plan. They’ve been discussing this for itself is a good example. We have namic,” he said. which remained in Snyder’s budg-
ties, a regional ambulance system McCririe said the township has years, and anyone who would be to utilize every cent for maximum Rogers supports Snyder’s ap- et — will offset that loss for many.
and the county’s central-dispatch been proactive for years in re- surprised by this in any form of potential,” Denby said. proach to boosting existing busi- State Sen. Joe Hune, R-Ham-
system as examples. source sharing, and cited plans for local or state government had to Rogers, chairman of the state’s nesses, what Snyder calls “econom- burg Township, called Snyder’s
Rogers said Livingston County the township to run utilities for the have had their head in the sand for school aid appropriations commit- ic gardening.” Rogers said phasing budget “a bold plan.”
is “setting the bar” for sharing Marion, Howell, Oceola, Genoa a long, long time,” he added. tee, said he left Thursday’s presen- out businesses-tax credits, many of “We’ll get into the details as
resources and conservative finan- Sewer and Water Authority. The State Rep. Cindy Denby, R- tation with more questions than which go to out-of-state companies, time goes on,” Hune said.
cial planning. He argued the coun- township is contracting out the Handy Township, called Snyder’s answers on Snyder’s proposal. would be a wise move. Contact Daily Press & Argus
ty and its municipalities should services to private companies, revenue-sharing plan “a very bold He said he was perplexed by an Several lobby groups and agen- reporter Christopher Behnan at
automatically receive a piece of which the township will bring in- move,” but wouldn’t take a stance apparent shift of either or both the cies have opposed eliminating of (517) 548-7108 or at cbehnan@
the $200 million. house to Township Hall. on the concept of essentially com- state’s community college and the Earned Income Tax Credit for gannett.com.

Seniors Schools brace for financial budget blow

Continued from page 1 and an increase in the retirement

angered With the projected loss of stu-

dents and rising retirement costs,
Danosky estimated the district
DISTRICTS LOOK AT LAYOFFS, LARGER CLASSES
TRAVERSE CITY (AP) — Many of Michigan’s public schools
could be forced to lay off teachers, pack more students into
rate.
Snyder’s budget also suggests
districts could save money by
consolidating services.
classrooms and eliminate programs if Gov. Rick Snyder’s pro-

by plan will lose around $2.75 million in

the next fiscal year.
School districts must pay a per-
centage of their total salaries to the
posed spending cutbacks are approved, education officials said
Thursday.
“While it’s tough, we believe it’s defensible, given the current
LESA Superintendent Scott
Menzel said that recommendation
may not work in Livingston
County.
Continued from page 1 state retirement fund each year, a environment,” the state budget director, John Nixon, said. “It’s “When I look at the projected
number set by the state. That rate savings from consolidating serv-
Amburgey and three of her has been steadily increasing in pretty balanced and could be a lot worse.” ices, that potential may be real in
friends discussed Snyder’s pro- recent years, and if it were Don Wotruba, government relations director with the Michigan some places that aren’t doing as
posal at the Howell Senior Center increased again, it could amount Association of School Boards, said Snyder’s plan understates the much, but it’s not as real in
after it aired on television Thurs- to the equivalent of an additional hit to local schools because the districts also have to make a Livingston County,” Menzel said.
day. Though she is long retired, $230-per-pupil funding cut, bring- much higher than usual state-mandated payment to the teachers’ The county’s intermediate school
Amburgey still helps support her ing the total cuts per pupil to about district controls busing for four of
handicapped son. $700, according to Danosky. pension fund, amounting to roughly $230 per student. the five school districts in Living-
“If it came to vote, I sure as heck Currently, the foundation grant ston County, excluding Fowlerville
wouldn’t vote for it,” Amburgey is considered to be $7,316 per stu- dollars in its operating budget Educational Service Agency. She Community Schools.
said. “It’s easy for (lawmakers) to dent, but that has already been over the past seven years. estimated Hartland could lose close He added that LESA continues
say they’ll tax our pensions, but trimmed by $170 and the addi- “I don’t know what else they to $4 million in the next fiscal year to look at places they can help
look at how much they’re getting.” Gov. Rick Snyder tional $300 would reduce the allo- expect public schools to do,” she if the cuts come to fruition. share services to save money, not
In his budget presentation, Snyder cation further still. said. “I know they haven’t come “This is my seventh year as a only with schools but also other
argued it was time for “shared sacri- “Whatever extra they take is “We tried to keep (cuts) out of and asked us how we manage in superintendent, and I’ve never cut governmental organizations.
fice.” Asked by state Sen. Roger what I need,” Banta said. “I’m the classroom, but we couldn’t Hartland … I wish they would.” less than a million-and-a-half dol- “We should continue to look at
Kahn, R-Saginaw Township, about very much against it.” continue to,” Danosky said. Sifferman said her district has lars from the budget,” said it, but it’s not enough to offset the
concerns that his idea might be seen Local retirees’ opinions were He added that this round of cuts cut its operating budget by privatiz- Brighton Area Schools Superin- cuts the schools are going to expe-
as a tax increase, Snyder replied that echoed by the AARP at the state is the worst he’s seen in his 12 ing some services, reducing staff tendent Greg Gray. “Last year, we rience,” Menzel said.
pensioners “would be paying the level, which also took issue with years as a superintendent. numbers, providing early retire- cut over $8 million.” Contact Daily Press & Argus
same tax rate as the rest of us.” Snyder’s proposal to reduce the Hartland Consolidated Schools ment incentives and sharing trans- Gray said his district stands to reporter Sarah K. Norris at (517)
Putnam Township retiree Dixie homestead property credit for sen- Superintendent Janet Sifferman portation costs with other county lose more than $4 million in fund- 552-2847 or at sknorris@gan-
Russell said she’s shared in that iors and eliminate the additional said the district has cut $7 million schools through the Livingston ing between the proposed cuts nett.com.
sacrifice through income taxes all personal income-tax exemption for
her working life. Russell earned a seniors.
modest pension working for the “We have a problem with the
University of Michigan. Russell entire budget proposal,” said Mark
said she’s already been notified by Hornbeck, state communications
her former employer that come director for AARP. “Our members
2013, she’ll be paying “a lot more” are not getting any value in
for medical, dental and optical exchange for higher taxes pro-
coverage. posed. What we are looking at is,
And now this? for our membership, higher taxes
“None of us are in good shape and fewer services — all to pay for
when it comes to retirees,” Russell a business tax cut. No thanks.”
said, looking directly across the Contact Daily Press & Argus
table at the Putnam Township reporter Frank Konkel at (517)
Senior Center at friends Roy and 552-2835 or at fkonkel@gan-
Clare Plasters and Laurene Banta. nett.com.
All four oppose having their Derek Melot of Gannett News
pensions taxed. Service contributed to this story.

PUBLICATION NO. USPS 316-500

ISSN 2150-5667
The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, published by Federated Publications, Inc, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Gannett Co. Inc, 323 E. Grand River, Howell Michigan, estab-
lished in 1843, is published daily Sunday through Friday in Livingston County, Michigan,
and serves the cities of Howell and Brighton, the villages of Fowlerville and Pinckney, and
16 unincorporated townships of Livingston County. Phone 548-2000, Area Code 517.
Entered as periodical matter at the Howell, Michigan (48843) Post Office under Act of
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*Sunday/Holiday subscriptions also include delivery on these days in 2011: 12/31/2010,
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