Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on May 1, 2007, to increase the amount that a county drain commissioner can assess district property owners for the maintenance of county drainage ditch systems, from $1,250 per mile to $2,500 per mile, or more than that with the approval of the county board. Also, to increase the amount the drain commission can spend on the maintenance of a drain before requiring county board approval, and increase the amount the board can approve. Also, to allow portions of the salaries, expenses, and fringe benefits of drain commission administrative and engineering employees to be charged to funds that hold these assessments, rather than paid by the county commission out of other tax revenue. Note: “Drain” refers to the interconnected system of man-made ditches that was created in the 19th and early 20th century to convert much of Michigan from swampland unsuitable for agriculture into arable cropland

The vote was 56 in favor, 48 opposed and 6 not voting

(House Roll Call 288 at House Journal 75)

Click here to view bill details.

Residents of Michigan be afraid!

Why in our modern world does the state feel they should have a say in county drains. I do not believe the state should be meddling in what is truly county concerns.

Because the construction unions have promised their vote in exchange for more government largess.

Under this bill you pay twice the drain taxes you used to. Under this bill you pay taxes under new circumstances. And the taxes you pay don't even have to be for "constructed" drains (old language), they can be "established" or paper drains (new language). What exactly will we be paying for?

There is a move to discharge this bill from the Senate Ag Committee where it has languished for a year and a half.  This could be lame duck mischief that is more than a doubling of drain taxes.  It is a new definition of who pays and for what. Citizens pay without a vote, of course.