How can a 35% tax increase not be a “not a new tax”?: Issue 40, the Mental Health and Recovery Services levy campaign wants you to believe it is so.
Yesterday I mentioned how Issue 38, the Lucas County Children Services levy is trying to “shake the voter” by misleading you into thinking their levy is not a new levy. Issue 40, the Mental Health and Recovery Services levy is trying to do the same thing.
Their signs and promotional material proudly highlight that it is “not a new tax” but in effect if this levy passes, you will be paying almost 35% more in taxes. Only in Lucas County can a levy committee get by saying that a 35% tax increase is not a new tax. While they could sneak by and say it is not a tax pulled out of thin air and it is replacing an older tax, the fact is a good majority of the voters, if they hear it is not a new tax will think their taxes will not increase.
Issue 40 is also a replacement levy which means it is the same rate but at the new evaluation and if you are like me, this equates to almost a 35% tax increase. Of course the literature and the signs conveniently leave out you will be paying a lot more in taxes on this levy, but they want you to know it is “not a new tax”.
This is deceptive marketing by the Issue 40 campaign and borders on the most egregious offense because they are trying to make you think something it is not. This is what happens when an organization forgets to be responsible and buys into slick marketing and not good government.
I say shame on the Issue 40 folks for making such a mistake and putting your levy into such a vulnerable spot. You, like Issue 38 could have chosen to be upfront, but you decided to be deceptive, and I can’t let this one pass either.
Want to know what the levies will cost you? Visit the Lucas County ARIES site and search for your own home, click on "Data" then choose the "Levy Estimator" to see for yourself what each levy will cost.
http://www.co.lucas.oh.us/real_estate/AREISmain/areismain.asp
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I think the best thing we could do is to vote NO across the board when it comes to the issues on the upcoming ballot.
Right. And the city of Sylvania isn't trying to annex the entire township at once - it's only a 'study', and anyway it's only a merger.
Stable dressing.
So at best, if Issue 40 isn't a new tax, don't vote for it and get some tax relief. Sylvania Schools are asking for more money again, and I hope that one doesn't pass either.
Mad Jack
Mad Jack's Shack