October 31, 2009 - 08:42 a.m. EST

The quest for Caro to become a city has been going on since a petition, signed by more than 100 residents, was originally presented to the village council in 2002. Since then, countless meetings of residents, the vast majority of whom are not members of the village government, have been held and the process has moved to the final stage. A yes vote on Nov. 3rd, approving the proposed City Charter, will allow Caro to follow the many communities who have seen the importance of making this change.

Cities, including Vassar, Sandusky, Marlette, Bad Axe, Frankenmuth and Brown City, have all taken this step towards greater self-governance. Currently, Caseville is voting to approve their City Charter and Sebewaing is in the process of working towards becoming a city.

The question one might ask is why have so many Caro citizens put forth such effort in moving this process forward?

The simple answer is that village residents currently support two separate forms of government, those of the village and the township. Village residents pay both a village and a township tax. In Michigan, if a village becomes a city, the residents no longer pay township taxes.

So, the long and short of it is tax rates for city residents will be reduced and we will eliminate the duplication of services village residents are currently forced to support. No longer will city residents pay twice for such services as fire protection, blight control or operating a governmental office. No longer will village residents pay of both a village president and a township supervisor, a village clerk and a township clerk, a village treasurer and a township treasurer, a village council and a township board, township elected officials retirement program, and a Almer Township road tax which by township policy is not used to support Almer residents living in the village. For city residents it is a more efficient and streamlined form of government. All funds raised by City taxes will be used to support the needs of the residents of the City of Caro.

In these troubled financial times, no one should be forced to pay for services which are of little or no benefit to them. Voting yes on November 3rd will allow the residents of Caro to eliminate the paying of township taxes and streamline the government their taxes support.

Sincerely,

Allen Jones

Chairperson

Caro Citizens for Cityhood