This is the first in what will likely be a long series addressing misinformation coming out of the village office in their weekly e-news. I’ll provide some insight into the propaganda to highlight how the village is using these announcements to misinform voters to mislead voters into backing tax increases and to cover up for their incompetency.
Lie: Taxes Will Not Go Up
TRUTH: Taxes Will Go Up
It is true that taxes for the road bond won’t increase, but it is a lie to say taxes wont increase. There are increased costs for many items and the only way to pay these increased costs is by increasing taxes:
- Snowplowing of additional sidewalks downtown
- Maintenance of flower beds
- Additional mowing needed in right of ways
- Electricity for streetlights
Fact: Taxes Will Go Up
Fact: Taxes Won’t Go Down
We approved a millage for road bonds up to 15 million dollars at an average rate of 3.3mills, and council borrowed 14.5 million, so the millage rate would be ~3.2mills.
Road cost was estimated at 11.8 million at the time the council borrowed 6 million for the final phase bringing the total to 14.5 million. Council borrowed 2.7 million dollars more than needed, to fund their pet projects.
Had this $2,700,000 went back to the bonds instead of paying for “free” pet projects the millage rate could have been reduced by 0.6 mills. Using Zillow’s estimate for the average house in Franklin on 9/24/22 this equates to $240 per year paid for the streetscape, and over the life of the bonds we are paying on average $3,600.
Franklin Villagers 