It’s all about politics

It’s all about politics

A friend of mine remarked that Chamber executive Tom Humphries could be Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan all rolled into one and Mahoning County Democrats would still crucify him for supporting a Republican.

Of course Tom might as well stay impartial because what difference does it make? Many of the politicians in both parties are for the most part lacking in any significant redeeming qualities, probably from spending their time on this kind of crap rather than actually doing something worthwhile.

What we are truly lacking is leadership, and statesmanship, not only on our level, but all the way up to and including the federal government. It’s all about politics, politics and more politics.

John Zedaker, Poland

Cost of Poland levy was overstated

The Oct. 12 letter stated that the proposed Poland Township 2-mill levy would increase property taxes by 2 mills. This is incorrect. This levy is a replacement for a 2-mill levy originally passed in 1978.

Due to real estate expansion, this levy is currently valued at 0.59144 mills and generates approximately $193,296 in revenues annually. The replacement levy would return the millage to 2 mills and generate approximately $599,026 annually. For a resident, the annual increase in property tax for a home valued at $100,000 would be $49.

Poland Township residents are asked to pass the levy due to the loss of approximately $250,000 in revenues annually because of the downturn in the economy that affected state funding, property tax collections, revenues from landfill fees and other fees collected by the township. It should be noted that Poland Township has not had a levy on the ballot that increased property taxes since 1994.

The township would appreciate the resident’s support of this levy.

Joseph Granitto, Poland Township

The writer is fiscal officer for Poland Township.