A Tale of Two Candidates

As voters in Marion Township and the City of Howell ponder who they
wish to represent the 5th District on the Livingston County Board of
Commissioners, the stark contrast in substance, style and leadership
couldn’t be clearer. Communications sent by my able opponent seem to
fixate on a single issue: taxes!! So, let’s add a little detail and sunlight to
his misleading rhetoric.
We should all be thankful for Livingston County’s low tax rate. Afterall, a
low tax rate keeps more money in household budgets, is an incentive for
business capital investment and job creation. As a fiscal conservative,
that’s precisely where we should be – but to expect further tax cuts could
impact some services. The City of Howell’s property tax rate is higher
simply based on services provided. This resulted in economic development
challenges when compared to the lower tax rates (and less services) found
in the surrounding townships. The city was stable financially up until the
2008 recession.
The recession had a negative impact on taxable values of property
resulting in significant reductions in revenue for the city. Although the
Headlee Amendment to the Michigan State Constitution is a good piece of
legislation, it’s interaction with Proposition A (Michigan Tax Amendment)
does not allow Michigan municipalities to recover property taxable values to
pre-recession levels once the economy recovers. Coupled with the State
consistently falling short on its statutory revenue sharing levels, this places
extreme fiscal pressures on Michigan communities. To learn more on this
dynamic, I encourage you to visit the Michigan Municipal League website
www.savemicity.org.
When elected to City Council in November 2013 and subsequently as
mayor, the fiscal stresses were a constant discussion for council members
and city staff. Staff reductions had already been implemented and
infrastructure road work simply could not be accomplished. Although a
fiscal conservative, I’ve never been a fiscal idiot and solutions had to be
discussed. The public safety millage would have taken pressure off the
city’s general fund and allowed for modest infrastructure work. The
approach had full council support, the millage district set unanimously, but
council’s vote to impose the millage had three members in support and
three opposed. Recalling my many lessons in leadership and
organizational management, my belief is that an elected body must be
united in imposing any unilateral millage increase. This belief prompted my
NO vote as a tiebreaker removing the issue from consideration. NO TAXES
WERE RAISED.
The last approach receiving full council support was to ask voters for a
full Headlee over-ride. Any tax increase must show value-for-money and all
additional funds, if approved, would have gone directly to infrastructure
residential street work. Many realtors have told me that a home’s value and
“curb appeal” might be disadvantaged if it’s on a significantly deteriorating
street over one on a well-maintained one. That vote subsequently failed as
residents preferred keeping tax levels as they were and forego residential
road work. AGAIN, NO TAXES WERE RAISED. Council then implemented
additional but modest budgetary cuts, authorized modest road
maintenance, and only considered reconstruction if there was at least an
80% grant from external sources. Last year’s reconstruction of Clinton
Street, and the State Street reconstruction in 2019 are examples where
external funds were used.
As the late Paul Harvey would say: “And that’s the rest of the story.” I’m
deeply disappointed that my opponent would mislead and mischaracterize
me and my former council colleagues as “tax raisers.” He should know
better. We were simply trying to rectify a significant drop in revenue and
restore taxes to their pre-recession level. The fact is that no property taxes
were raised during our tenure, other than those allowed under state law.
Budgets should always reflect community priorities ensuring a balance
between revenues, expenditures, and needs. The City Council acted in
good faith and with the best interests of ALL Howell residents. We were
always good stewards of their tax money – passing balanced budgets ever
year and setting priorities with what funding was available.
My opponent, however, placed his personal interests before that of the
community in late 2020 by spearheading salary increases for the Board of
Commissioners – all during state ordered pandemic shutdowns with many
in our community unable to work. The Howell City Council never did that
and preferred keeping money where it would best serve the community. He
also is currently supporting a needless expenditure of our tax dollars for an
external search for a new Health Director when a qualified internal
candidate has already been identified. And, in an example of throwing the
baby out with the bath water, he voted not to accept $1.5 million State
COVID funding. Granted, there were some provisions in the funding that I
wouldn’t have liked, but there’s always creative ways to spend the money
where it would have maximum benefit – helping the most vulnerable in our
county, the elderly or those who have compromised respiratory or immune
systems, receive a vaccination if they chose. Decisions must be made for
the good of our entire community absent ideological litmus tests.
Voters in Marion Township and the City of Howell have an obvious
choice in the August 2nd primary – a tale of two diametrically opposed
candidates in substance, style, and leadership. If they opt to vote for
change and allow me to represent them, I commit to representing all
residents of District 5 and not an ideology while keeping our tax rates low. I
will remain fully engaged in the community, open minded, never abdicating
critical thinking, and ALWAYS available to listen to what matters to you. I
will be honest, forthright, never misleading or mischaracterizing anything to
score cheap and dishonest political points.
The time for change to common-sense leadership is now. Please visit
my website at www.voteproctor.com or my “Committee to Elect Nick
Proctor” Facebook page to learn more.

Nick Proctor