This article was in our local newspaper (The Pantagraph) yesterday (12/15/09):
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_d214ac88-e92e-11de-963d-001cc4c002e0.html
I found it interesting as someone who owns a condo south of Detroit whose property value has plummeted, yet the taxes owed that are supposedly based off that same property value have not dropped. Odd. I work for State Farm and support any individual or company that feels they are being over-taxed appealing their assessment.
Here’s the portion of the story that really frustrated me:
The county’s general fund is capped at $0.25 per $100 equalized assessed valuation. The county currently is taxing at $0.2453 per $100 EAV for that fund, he said. So the county couldn’t recoup a 2 percent drop in assessed valuation by raising its levy.
“It could mean potential cuts,” Lindberg said.
However, Lindberg added, “I’m highly confident State Farm will live up to its motto, ‘Like a Good Neighbor,’” and the situation will be resolved.
Terry Lindberg’s title is “County Administrator.” What Lindberg appears to believe is that because not being able to over-tax a large company like State Farm could affect his budget, it is State Farm’s responsibility as a “Good Neighbor” (nice cheap shot Lindberg) to pay taxes they do not owe so that his budget (which apparently was not prepared responsibly) does not suffer. It is frightening and sad that someone who believes such nonsense holds an important position in our community.
The giving State Farm does to this community is very large. But even if it wasn’t and State Farm was full of money hungry hoarders, it would in no way make them responsible for paying taxes they don’t owe to pad a budget of the county. It’s just another example of someone looking for a handout. I would be willing to bet that Mr. Lindberg does not pay a penny more on his income taxes every year so that the government can start paying off the billions of dollars of debt they have accumulated.
Lindberg knew what he was doing. He was using an interview that he knew would be published in the local paper to paint State Farm as the bad guy in this situation knowing full well (hopefully) that State Farm isn’t the one that would be suffering from having to pay taxes it doesn’t owe. The policy holders would. Sounds like being a good neighbor is exactly what they are doing by making sure they don’t have to raise premiums because they are forking over their policyholders money to pay taxes they don’t owe.
Look what else I found on the Pantagraph-
“McLean County will have a new administrator next month. The McLean County Board approved a two-year contract with Assistant County Administrator Terry Lindberg, paying him $125,141 each year to be the county's administrator.”
The full article can be found at:
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_a4e218e2-220f-5603-a1be-f42bee942df2.html
It seems to me Mr. Lindberg makes a good living for himself and can afford a pay cut if need be to help his budget. Perhaps he should be a good neighbor and do so.
Mr. Lindberg, you are a dope.
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