Random thoughts.......4 you




Good ideas to possibly save MONEY for MI.:
.....Toll roads---if you have ever driven our Interstate Highways [I-],
      & / or our Michigan [M-] Highways then:
     you do realize the need for UPKEEP on these roadways.  Talk over the years has
     indicted the knowledge & understanding, within our "Powers-to-Be", that money In will
     result in repairs Out. Previous State Officers have kicked around the concept of Toll Roads.
     Nothing ever came of the talks except:
     ... some darn funny cartoons
     ... lots of Lounge / Break room, Business lunch & / or dinner chatter
     ... discussion of "can you just see the A.M. / P. M. rush hour traffic "

   LOL, Yucks. Yikes, Chuckles, & Eye-rolling antics that we humans do so well come to mind.     
    However, this past Sunday [20 Sept. 2009] the Editorial section of the Detroit News posted:
    "Letting private companies set up toll roads could be answer to Michigan's crumbling infrastructure."

   Now, this is getting serious, but the Editorial goes on to state that there are toll road companies who
   might provide Michigan with the method to come up with the needed money to fix our aging system.
   They identify them as "Deep-pocketed toll road companies".  As our State winds down it's Fiscal year
   this Sept. 30th- apparently our legislatures-lawmakers are considering road funding reforms. [of course-
   increasing the gas tax is also front & center]. I-94 & I-75 are badly in need of repairs, here some call 
   these Highways the "Orange Trek way"    If one can purchase a "Pass" as in other States, then how bad could it be.  Repairs finished & not re-visited each year equal good things.

 Some not so promising ideas:
.....Lowered tax assessments for G.M. & Chrysler properties have been taken to / or are before the
     Michigan Tax Tribunal; the companies have stated that Commercial Property has been over-valued
     & owners of such properties should have their property taxes changed.  The various communities that
     will be impacted are worried as this would mean a loss of revenue in the millions. The splinter effect
     of other commercial property owners seeking relief could totally skew municipalities' budgets. The Tax
     Tribunal officials say a decision is unlikely for this year. Needless to say, Homeowners cannot make up
     the monetary differences.

Some totally useless ideas:

But, an e-mail was received today that could be the answer to some problems:
 ....through an unknown & unsolicited [by us] promotion--WE are the winners of the total award of:
     580,000.00 Euros categorically [?]  So there, take that you Tax mongers.
   Do you think that if we donate this award [ minus our dutifully removed Tax dollars ] to the State we
   will be absolved from any further tax bills ? ....NAH!

On another topic, we are going to a mandatory meeting tonight on Fair Housing , Ethics or updates [obviously since neither Sal nor I remember the Topic-we NEED this meet] from 5-7 p.m.. Thus this posting is earlier than my schedule of "to-do" items;.....But there will be 'chicken wings' available !!!   
       
     so, this is Thursday Over & Out 
Post Script...meeting was great...it was on Fair Housing....but NO chicken wings...guess we were wrong.