McGonegal sends congratulations on new mall
BRIGHTON – Mike McGonegel, candidate for the Michigan House from the 66th District, added his congratulations to Green Oak Township and Wixom-based Quadrants Inc. on the opening of the new $100 millon Green Oak Village Place mall last week.
But McGonegal said the real winners were the taxpayers of Livingston County who were not stuck with the more than $9 millon cost of the dual roundabouts at the Lee Road interchange. McGonegal’s opponent drafted an amendment to the law establishing a Downtown Development Authority that would have allowed the township to form a DDA just to benefit the mall to capture county tax revenue for road improvements.
Luckily, the Livingston County Board of Commissioners rejected establishing the DDA, and one of the major reasons was because the developer did not and would not have to provide any money, and the county was already struggling to replace $3.6 million in lost state revenue sharing payments. A 20-year bond would have been sold to finance the project and taxpayers would also have to pay an additional $200,000 a year in interest for the next 20 years.
“This is one of the worst giveaways of taxpayer money to a developer I have ever heard about,” McGonegal said. “This would take away money away from local police, fire departments, ambulances, the jail and many other local services.”
McGonegal also said Chris Ward’s statement in a candidate debate last month that if his stealth amendment had not been repealed the interchange would be much better built is simply untrue. The only difference would be the taxpayers would have footed the bill instead of the people who are receiving the direct benefit.
“It’s ironic that Mr. Ward was only one of three lawmakers to vote against the earned income tax credit for working families that would pump money right back into the local economy and keep many working people off of welfare,” McGonegal said. “But he has no problem giving away more than $9 million of taxpayer money to a developer.”
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But McGonegal said the real winners were the taxpayers of Livingston County who were not stuck with the more than $9 millon cost of the dual roundabouts at the Lee Road interchange. McGonegal’s opponent drafted an amendment to the law establishing a Downtown Development Authority that would have allowed the township to form a DDA just to benefit the mall to capture county tax revenue for road improvements.
Luckily, the Livingston County Board of Commissioners rejected establishing the DDA, and one of the major reasons was because the developer did not and would not have to provide any money, and the county was already struggling to replace $3.6 million in lost state revenue sharing payments. A 20-year bond would have been sold to finance the project and taxpayers would also have to pay an additional $200,000 a year in interest for the next 20 years.
“This is one of the worst giveaways of taxpayer money to a developer I have ever heard about,” McGonegal said. “This would take away money away from local police, fire departments, ambulances, the jail and many other local services.”
McGonegal also said Chris Ward’s statement in a candidate debate last month that if his stealth amendment had not been repealed the interchange would be much better built is simply untrue. The only difference would be the taxpayers would have footed the bill instead of the people who are receiving the direct benefit.
“It’s ironic that Mr. Ward was only one of three lawmakers to vote against the earned income tax credit for working families that would pump money right back into the local economy and keep many working people off of welfare,” McGonegal said. “But he has no problem giving away more than $9 million of taxpayer money to a developer.”
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posted by Communications guru @ 12:41 AM
4 Comments:
Mr.Ward's vote against the earned income tax credit means that he still wants to tax a working family whose income is below the federal poverty line.The earned income tax credit is a good policy that encourages work and can help a working family become self sufficent.It is only available for people who work.The credit is designed to help families work themselves out of poverty.Mr.Ward is wrong on his vote agaist the credit because it would have made it much harder for working families to make ends meet and provide for their kids.Mr.McGongal you are correct in your position because the credit boosts income from work and puts it back into the economy.And your opponent talks about the economy but his vote against the credit is really a left handed assault against the economy he wants to repair.
Welcome to the blog, CPA, and thank you for your contribution. We could not have said it better ourselves. It makes you wonder whom Mr. Ward represents and whom he’s really looking out for.
THIS WARD IS JUST A REAL JERK TO BE AGAINST SOME POOR SLOB TRYING TO GET BY AS BEST HE CAN . I'M ON A ROLL BECAUSE THIS GUY NEDDS TO BE GIVEN A KNOCK OUT PUNCH AT THE VOTING BOOTH.
That is correct, kahuna. We are especially happy that the privately owned mall was built with private funds, not taxpayer dollars. Apparently you are not. Why is that because you cannot win an argument with the facts and a reasoned argument you stoop to name-calling?
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