Land O Links
A REPRIEVE: A $20,000 donation by the president of the Irish Hills Historical Society may help these historic viewing towers stave off the wrecking ball. (courtesy photo/Mlive)*Homeowners know what July means … property tax bills. While it might not feel like it, Michigan is not at the top when it comes to taxing property. This map by the Tax Foundation shows Michigan No. 18 for per-capita local and state property taxes, at $1,453 per person. (That data though is from 2010, the most recent available.)
The highest property tax bite is the District of Columbia at $3,106; no. 2 is Wyoming at $2,633. The lowest is Alabama at $539.
*An LOL update: Two historic structures in Michigan’s Irish Hills region scheduled for the wrecking ball got a bit of help this month:
“"Irish Hills Historical Society President Donna Boglarsky is personally funding a $20,000 Irish Hills Towers construction project in the hopes the landmark won't be demolished in September."
More is needed, though: "Township officials declared the estimated $300,000 for renovations would have to be shored up by Aug. 1, or the towers will be demolished by Oct. 1. The renovations would be to bring the property, located at 8433 W. U.S. 12, to public use standards."
*Minneapolis has the lowest unemployment rate of large metro areas.
*Oregon charts a different course on college costs:
“As lawmakers in Washington remain at loggerheads over the student-debt crisis, Oregon's legislature is moving ahead with a plan to enable students to attend state schools with no money down. In return, under one proposal, the students would agree to pay into a special fund 3% of their salaries annually for 24 years.”
*Macomb County residents, your county government wants to know what you think.
*What’s a word for beyond depressing?
*Bridge isn’t the only outlet that ranks Michigan schools. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has some new rankings of elementary and middle schools across the state.
One point that’s perhaps relevant to Michigan’s ongoing debate over how to organize and manage schools: 19 of the 30 schools are “conventional” public schools. (Six were “selective” and five were charter.)
See what new members are saying about why they donated to Bridge Michigan:
- “In order for this information to be accurate and unbiased it must be underwritten by its readers, not by special interests.” - Larry S.
- “Not many other media sources report on the topics Bridge does.” - Susan B.
- “Your journalism is outstanding and rare these days.” - Mark S.
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