Remember a few weeks ago how I told you that there very well might be a local income tax instituted here, in the close-to-bankrupted city of Ypsilanti? Well, it looks as though the idea’s been approved by the “Blue Ribbon” committee, and now the powers that be are preparing to rush it though the legislative process in order to get it on November’s ballot. If I was more knowledgeable on the subject, I’d post something myself, but, as I’m not, I’ll just suggest that you hop over to the Ypsi-Dixit site, where a mutual friend of ours has initiated a discussion. (For those of you interested in the background, you can also read my notes from an earlier meeting of the Blue Ribbon committee here.)
I haven’t done the math yet, but people that I trust tell me that the current scheme being proposed would unfairly burden renters and lower-income residents. If that’s the case, it seems to me that perhaps speeding this legislation through the process, and cutting short the time for public discussion, might be poorly advised… at least if they want for the proposal to pass in November. Of course, I appreciate how desperate the need for increased revenues is, but I can’t help but think we might set ourselves back immeasurably if we try to rush this through in its current form and it doesn’t pass.
