Sunday, June 14, 2009

County Commissioners Taking Another Crack at Vets Tax

Livingston County veterans will make their case for complying with state law on aid to veterans again to a second committee of Livingston County commissioners on Monday (June 15).

This time, veterans will have to jump through hoops for the finance committee, after having already made their case to the human services committee. The meeting is at 6 p.m. at 304 E. Grand River, Howell.

Veterans want the county to comply with an 1899 law and levy a tax for indigent veterans. The county uses money from its general fund to provide counselors to help veterans get medical care and other benefits to which they are entitled. But it only provides $6,000 for actual relief, and demand far exceeds that.

County commissioners have been trying to pass the buck to the voters on this issue, which seems totally unnecessary since levying the tax is required by law.

The Livingston Press and Argus is taking a tougher line in favor of the tax this week than it did earlier. It notes that the owner of a $300,000 home would pay about $7.50 a year for the levy requested by the vetes. But in reality, most Livingston County homes aren't assessed anywhere near that level.

This shouldn't even be an issue.

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