Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Vote no on tax and spend policies

Dear Editor,

Residents in the city of Ironwood and Ironwood Township are being asked to increase property taxes by supporting road millage requests.

A recent article in the Daily Globe reported our local roads are in poor condition and in need of repair. I won’t dispute that fact. What I question is why have our elected leaders chosen and continue to make road maintenance a low priority?

Property owners in Gogebic County have the highest property tax millage rates in the Upper Peninsula. Rather than make tough decisions regarding public services, our elected leaders have simply adopted a tax-and-spend attitude.

Property owners in Gogebic County are burdened with numerous special millages that make home ownership unattainable for many. Senior citizens are forced to sell their homes because of excessive property tax levies. Young working families find purchasing a home nearly impossible.

As one person with a young family recently told me “I can afford the mortgage, I can afford the property taxes, but I cannot afford both. Home ownership for me is unattainable.”

Both the city and township of Ironwood have substantial budgets and adequate monies to fund road maintenance. It’s time for the voters to step up and tell our elected leaders to make road maintenance a priority and adjust their budgets accordingly.

Given 15 minutes and the authority to make a difference, I could easily find funds in either budget without raising taxes. A tax increase is not necessary.

I urge every voter to vote “no” on the road millage proposals in the city of Ironwood and Ironwood Township.

Rudy Grbavcich

Ironwood