The proposed May 3 millage request by the City of Lansing is a "Threefer" (i.e. 3 tax proposals rolled into one). There is a 4-mill tax increase, a .8308-mill Headlee Override and the ability to raise the millage rate by 4.8038 mills instead of 4 mills. I strongly encourage voters to read ALL of the ballot language before voting on Lansing's proposed 4-mill increase and .8308-mill Headlee Override. The tax hike and Headlee Override amount to a 25.5% to more than a 29.5% increase. If the millage is approved, the City of Lansing has the legal right to raise taxes by 4.8308 mills if it chooses to do so in the next 5 years. Nothing in the ballot language prevents this millage from being RENEWED after 5 years, even if property values increase. Any increase in property values would amount to yet another tax increase. If you haven't seen the ballot language, here it is in its entirety: MILLAGE PROPOSAL This ballot proposal, if approved, will authorize a new additional millage of .8308 mills for a period of 5 years (from current year 2011 through 2015, inclusive), permitting the City of Lansing to levy a property tax in excess of the limitation imposed by the “Headlee Amendment,” being Section 31 of Article IX of the State Constitution of 1963 (the “Headlee Cap”). Pursuant to the Home Rule City Act (the “Act”), being MCL 117.1 et seq., the City Charter permits the City to levy property taxes at a rate of 20 mills ($20 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value). The Headlee Cap has reduced the City’s maximum taxing authority to 19.1692 mills. This ballot proposal would restore the limitation on the City’s taxing authority to the maximum of 20 mills permitted under Charter and the Act. This is .8308 mills in excess of the Headlee Cap of 19.1692 mills. If this ballot proposal is approved, the City could levy a 4 mill increase over the current rate of 15.44 mills ($15.44 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value), resulting in a millage rate of 19.44 mills ($19.44 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value), which is in excess of the 19.1692 mills currently authorized under the Headlee Cap. For the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2011, the 4 mills of new additional millage to be levied is estimated to result in an additional $8.5 million of revenue to be disbursed to the City of Lansing. If approved, and the City levied an additional .8308 mills in excess of the Headlee Cap of 19.1692 mills to the maximum amount of 20 mills, this would result in $1.77 Million in estimated revenue to be disbursed to the City. Shall the City restore its property taxing capacity to 20 mills for the next 5 years (from current year 2011 through 2015, inclusive), which is .8308 mills in excess of the current limit, and within which the City may raise the current levy of 15.44 mills by 4 mills to 19.44 mills for the purpose of funding essential services, including police, fire, and local road maintenance? Yes ______ No ______ Make certain you know what you're voting on before you vote. And, if you don't understand any of the ballot language, the only logical thing to do is VOTE NO! John Pollard