As U-M taketh away, Ann Arbor struggles to keepeth taxes
A debate over taxes in Ann Arbor is underway now that the University of Michigan is taking the former Pfizer property off the rolls. That means up to $3 million less for the city’s coffers. Some leaders are considering a local income tax so that people who live in the townships but work in A2 pay their fare share. In-towners would see a corresponding drop in property tax.Excerpt:When it comes to expanding its campus, the University of Michigan usually pursues a strategy that flies under the radar: Every year, it buys one or two small properties, often rental homes near campus that have seen better days.That strategy got overrun in mid-December when the university announced the most dramatic expansion of its campus in 50 years – its pending purchase of the 177-acre Pfizer Inc. property in northeast Ann Arbor.With that purchase, the long-running town-gown debate on whether the tax-exempt university contributes enough to the city’s bottom line is being re-energized.The university will face greater pressures to contribute more to defray the city’s costs of providing services.And at least one city council member has wasted no time in bringing up an old idea twice rejected by voters over the years – an income tax for everyone who works in the city.Read the rest of the story here.
A debate over taxes in Ann Arbor is underway now that the University of Michigan is taking the former Pfizer property off the rolls. That means up to $3 million less for the city’s coffers.
Some leaders are considering a local income tax so that people who live in the townships but work in A2 pay their fare share. In-towners would see a corresponding drop in property tax.
Excerpt:
When it comes to expanding its campus, the University of Michigan usually pursues a strategy that flies under the radar: Every year, it buys one or two small properties, often rental homes near campus that have seen better days.
That strategy got overrun in mid-December when the university announced the most dramatic expansion of its campus in 50 years – its pending purchase of the 177-acre Pfizer Inc. property in northeast Ann Arbor.
With that purchase, the long-running town-gown debate on whether the tax-exempt university contributes enough to the city’s bottom line is being re-energized.
The university will face greater pressures to contribute more to defray the city’s costs of providing services.
And at least one city council member has wasted no time in bringing up an old idea twice rejected by voters over the years – an income tax for everyone who works in the city.
Read the rest of the story here.
Related Articles
Recast Leaders aim to revitalize local economies
Ypsilanti and six other Michigan communities are working on building their local economies in the Recast Leaders program. Here’s a look at how the program works.
AI’s impact in Washtenaw County, from tech boom to data centers
Our new three-part series digs into AI’s impacts in Ann Arbor’s tech industry, its utilization in Washtenaw County’s educational world, and the ongoing debate about data centers in several Washtenaw County communities.
Ypsi selected to join downtown revitalization program with emphasis on small manufacturers
Ypsilanti is one of six communities participating in Recast City’s Recast Leaders program, which is focused on strengthening local economies through small-scale manufacturing and product-based businesses.
