Some Ideas/Thoughts/Suggestions to Help Reduce Property Taxes

Note: See Link to Race -to-the-Top after posed question

In early February, I began contacting ALL in local and state government about ways I or any other citizen may be able to generate ideas about how we can work to lower the property tax burden. Some of these ideas are for the federal level of government, but many were not. I asked anyway whether the idea or question was realistic or not. I may say that of all I contacted only one handful replied (ONE) and one replied only because he was running for re-election. Here it is:

I have contacted many of you about issues that need to be addressed and in light of just complaining, I, as a voter and tax payer, would like to suggest some ideas where we might be able to open discussion or take some action by asking questions or directly submitting a suggestion. With this being said, some of these ideas may have been discussed already but may be worth reviewing again. Some of this may not affect you directly and some will. I will write from time-to-time as I want to introduce healthy discussion with your organization and so your organizations can/will communicate with each other to make it work.

- What are we doing with federal stimulus money to create jobs and increase our income tax base?

- In relation to this - are we generating renewable sources of energy and new ways to create it?

- Are we (Wisconsin/Madison/Dane County) accepting federal funding for schools/education? If not - why?

- What is happening with the governments race-to-the-top funding? Are we working for it? http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/blog/article_005d6408-7fc1-11df-960f-001cc4c03286.html
- Have we put a cap (no increases) on all elected officials salaries for the next two years?

- Are we going to plan on increasing the state sales tax and/or county sales tax by a fraction - say .25% so the tax burden is spread more fairly to all Wisconsin residents rather than just the property owners?
- OR - The Cty of Madison or any other city, township could create a mandate to have all cars/trucks registered within the city for a fee each year of say $15-$20 (many cities in Illinois do this on top of State car registration/licensing).

- We have many sources, PAC's, and now corporations (if Senator Dodd does not get an ammendment passed) to raise money for campaigns OR just to advertise for a cause/belief. Could we tax a small percentage of these contributions and ads (evenly, across the board) coming in and apply the funds raised to public schools and/or city and county governments? - FURTHER - if this was possible; could we give an INDIVIDUAL doner a small, annual tax break to give private donations an edge over corporate?

- We should make every member of the State Assembly turn in receipts for their daily expenses rather than just paying them the alotted per diem amount per day. It may be small but could add up as in years past the annual payout was well over $1 million (last year over $800,000).

- Increase hunting fees.

- Tax Payday Lenders.

- Mandate all businesses to insure all employees who work 20 hours or more to provide comprehensive health care by giving them a tax break, finding one insurance provider for the whole state to offer reduced costs to businesses so they can provide coverage. Not only would this increase competition by insurers but it would also provide competitive care and reduce costs (review Hawaii's health care system).

- Also ensure that any isurance company can not discriminate for pre-existing conditions, or higher risk individuals.

- Award insurers for offering healthy lifestyles like proactive health screening, weightloss programs, excercise programs, etc.

These are just some ideas and I am sure some of these have been thought of, debated, instated - it may be worthwhile to review again and discuss and build on.

Thank you,
C. Damian Michaelis

----- Original Message -----
From: cdmichaelis@sbcglobal.net
To: cdmichaelis@sbcglobal.net ; county_board_recipients@co.dane.wi.us ; patrick.fuller@legis.wisconsin.gov ; Robert.Marchant@legis.wisconsin.gov ; allalders@cityofmadison.com ; RStrauch-Nelson@cityofmadison.com ; Rep.Black@legis.wisconsin.gov ; police@cityofmadison.com ; board@madison.k12.wi.us ; Sen.Risser@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 5:31 PM

Subject: Madison Taxes / Various

My apologies - correction made in body of text
Thank you All for your hard work over the years.
2008 was a great year in politics and exciting. 2009 missed a lot of opportunities to assist the public because of gridlock and partisanship, mostly at the federal level. It was also a year of wasteful spending by the US Government and the State of Wisconsin - much more at the state/city level than at the county level for Dane County and Madison. 2010 will be a year of unrest and anger because of the past and because of the economy and unemployment. It is unfortunate and embarrassing that this is happening. We live in a fast-food society where people think that 8 years of built problems can be fixed overnight and is where the anger comes in.

With this being said - most property owners saw large increases in their property taxes for 2009. I would like to know how the WI Legislature, City of Madison, and Dane County Board is going to work to reduce these taxes and think of a more creative ways to budget than going back to the property owner for more money. Let's ASK the property owners and citizens for input, ideas, support, etc.
How is the State Assembly going to stop deferring the annual budget process and work together? Why did the State Assembly give themselves pay raises last year when the economy was in a spiral downward? This is shameful.

How is the City of Madison going to utilize better common sense in selecting necessary capital and operational expenses for projects that are needed rather than wanted? Do we really need 4 year olds going to kindergarten?? Do we really need a ridiculously expensive library and grand hotel right now? People are hungry, cold, and without work. Let's make the citizen a priority.

20% of my monthly income needs to be set aside to pay my property taxes. I am lucky enough to have a job. If I wasn't - I would be homeless. Property owners in Madison and Dane County will soon not be able to afford to live in this wonderful community.

There is a lot of good that is done by you. But I need to know that the best interest of each individual will take precedent over the cost of waste and poor judgment to help us remain in our homes and balance the budget with realistic goals for 2010 and beyond. It is going to be an ugly year for politicians and voters. The media will have the most to gain. Let's show the country that we have a system that works as one unit and get done what needs getting done!

Thank you,
C. Damian Michaelis