Same missed story

Analysis:

Again the article focuses on the possibility of a tax increase to Grand Rapids residents. Here the Press reporter cites 5 people, Bing Goei with the Chamber of Commerce, City Comm. Rick Tormala, Laura Huey with the Institute for Global Education, Cyndy Viars with Disability Advocates and Kent County Commissioner Paul Mayhue. There were mixed responses on the taxation issue, but only the Disability Advocates representative mentioned anything other than taxes. She was quoted as saying that the “Mayor would need to show residents how they will benefit from a tax increase, especially since they City would offer tax cuts to corporations.” The failure in this article is that they did not present the other proposals from the Mayor, nor explore the viability of such proposals. For an independent reporting on the State of the City address go to the online source Media Mouse.

Story:

Some city leaders doubtful mayor can convince voters to raise taxes
By Dave Murray

GRAND RAPIDS — Mayor George Heartwell issued the call to raise taxes near the middle of his “State of the City” speech Saturday, paused for a response and was surprised by what he heard: applause. While it wasn’t the standing ovation the mayor received as he was introduced to the crowd at the DeVos Place breakfast meeting, Heartwell said he was “certainly pleased” that he wasn’t booed for suggesting that residents need to dig deeper into their pockets to prevent further cuts in city services.

But some of leaders of the city’s business and social service communities said it’s one thing to get some applause from a friendly audience and another to convince voters. “I think that was an indication of our politeness in West Michigan,” said Bing Goi, chairman of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. “I think the mayor is right to put it on the table to talk about it, but raising taxes should be the very, very, very last resort. “He spoke about making government leaner, and I encourage them to keep working in that direction before they want to raise taxes.”

City Commission member Rick Tormala said he doesn’t think there is any way Heartwell can get a tax hike when the city is cutting services but adding to its savings. “I don’t think George Heartwell has the credibility to get a tax increase at this time,” he said. “If he wants to keep the pool open and keep all our firefighters and not keep building up the savings, I’d go door-to-door to help him pass a tax increase. But that’s not what he’s doing, and this is not going to pass.”
Some attending the speech said they don’t think people can afford to pay more when energy and health-care costs are soaring. “I think people are flat-out pinched right now,” said Laura Huey of the Institute for Global Education. “Look at all the things going on right now, and I really don’t think people are able to afford more taxes.”

Cyndy Viars, a systems change facilitator for Disability Advocates of Kent County, noted that Heartwell spoke of tax abatements for businesses but did not touch on helping people in need or groups that assist them. She said people will expect to see added services for increased taxes, and that Heartwell would need to show residents how they — and not corporations — would benefit.

Heartwell did not say which taxes he would raise or how much they should be hiked. Any increase in the city’s income tax or property tax must be approved by voters.

“I think a half-dozen mayoral aspirants are licking their chops at the thought of me even talking about this,” Heartwell joked. He said the city would continue looking for ways in-house to cut costs, but said slashing the city’s work force to cover a projected $8.5 million deficit would decimate services that have already been cut recently.
Heartwell said the city has cut $65 million in spending during the past four years and will have to cut $80 million in the next five years.

Kent County Commissioner Paul Mayhue, whose district includes part of Grand Rapids, said Heartwell risks getting tagged “a tax-and-spend liberal” by opponents, but he said the issue should be discussed. “People continue to see their services cut,” he said. “But the city’s expenses continue to rise, and the revenue side has to come up in some way. This is a challenge to us as a city.”