Hi to all interested Pittsfield folks reading this (Kirk, you don't need to reply with any more rumors or display the fervent lack of reality that exists in your subdivision)

Fortunately the truth on the recall issues got published today (9/2/06). The Ann Arbor News has published a point-by-point rebuttal of the recaller’s points, showing that there is no evidence to support the recall.

You can read it yourself, but just to summarize -

- Recall backers claim: Voted to raise pension payout for elected officials by 50%. The Township Supervisor, Treasurer and Clerk are fully vested after only 8 years.
* The truth is: The changes in question were actually enacted in 1996 and 1991. Long before the current board was seated.

- Recall backers claim: Increased tax rates
* The truth is: The tax rate (for the township - not counting the Saline Schools OR the increase in home value) has been stable, even dropping in some years.
  Mills: '00 5.373, '01 5.234, '02 5.037, '03-'06 5.195

- Recall backers claim: Township Board voted to use $200,000 of your tax dollars to directly help Treasurer Lirones earn $150,000 in State Land Grants for her personal property.
* The truth is: That no money was given to the official for preservation, and that the board voted to exclude her property from receiving township funds.

- Recall backers claim: that the board has accumulated the townships first debt.
* The truth is: That the township had debt before for major undertakings (like the blue water tower next to I-94)

- Recall backers claim: Township officials spent $6M of the $14M reserve they got from the previous board
* The truth is: They started with $7.68M and now there is $7.96M (simple math says that's an increase)