u <! 112th Year, No. 43 ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN — THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1968 2 SECTIONS — 32 PAGES 15 Cents Millage limitation on ballot, too BOB and PAUL BUEHLER Income tax vote next Tuesday ... new grocery owners here St. Johns residents will go to the polls next Tuesday to defeat of the issues in the coming election," Furry said in a "One fact which has not been pointed out by the Taxpayers1 make what Mayor Charles Coletta has called "one of the most written statement. ^ Committee Is that should neither1 issue pass, neither one would important decisions that has confronted the voters in the history * be able to be voted on again for two years, with the result that 2 Brothers of of St. Johns." "ONE NEEDS ONLY to look at the budget or audit (which the financial crisis would continue with no additional revenues To be resolved by voters will be questions of whether are readily available to anyone wishing to look at them) to available for any additional'services or Improvements. the city will have an income tax and whether the property tax realize for themselves that the financial condition of the city *The only other method available for a solution to this millage limitation will be 15 mills or 10 mills. is in bad shape to say the least. financial mess is a water rate increase which would be totally Owosso buy out Lively pre-election talk would seem to indicate a "toss-up* "The city commission has simply offered the people a unfair to the taxpayer who is already paying a high rate now," in the outcome of the income tax referendum. Opposition to the choice as to how they want to raise the necessary funds; either Furry said. income tax has been both vocal and public since even before by a 1 per cent income tax or by amending the charter to allow Both city officals urged voters to disregard emotion or passage of the tax by the city commission back in November. a 15-mlll limitation for general operation. , . bitterness in making their decision at the polls next Tuesday. Proponents of the Income tax have more quietly talked it up and Eberhard store only in the last few days have made much of a public effort to back It. The Two Brothers Food Co., Where money goes New set up headed by former St. Johns resi­ THE INCOME TAX WOULD BE a 1 per cent tax on income dents Paul and Bob Buehler, has of city residents and a tax of one-half of 1 per cent on the Income purchased the Eberhard Food earned in St. Johns by non-residents of the city. The tax follows to speed Store at 911 E. State Street and the regulations of the uniform city income tax law passed by •will officially take over opera­ the state Legislature. ^ counting tions this Saturday evening. Taking a back seat to the income tax talk is a second The store will be closed next proposition on the ballot that would increase the property tax The final results of next Tues­ Monday and Tuesday for re- millage limitation from the present 10 mills up to 15 mills. day's balloting should be known merchandising and redecorating City voters twice last year turned down charter amendments comparatively soon after the and will reopen next Wednesday for a 20-mill limitation. polls are closed. For the first with a grand opening sale for The election next Tuesday, Feb. 20, has been called vital time the city will utilize an the remainder of the week. to the city's future by individuals both in and out of city govern­ "absentee voter counting, board9 The Two Brothers Food Co. ment. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; both city pre­ to get an earlier count on ab­ Is a three-year-old corporation cinct voilng places are in the municipal building. sentee ballots. •with a large store on the east The two issues on the ballot are tied together to a point. This provides the equivalent side of Owosso. Both Paul and "If either the income tax or the 15-mill limitation pass," Mayor of a third precinct. Counting Bob Buehler have educational Coletta pointed out, "the city will derive sufficient revenue to of absentee ballots will begin backgrounds aimed at food mar­ eliminate the current Indebtedness and to keep pace with the at 4 p.m. and should be com-'" keting management, as well as growth and development of the city. pleted by the time votes from considerable experience in the "However, if both issues should fail, the city will be faced the two city precincts are to­ field. with a very serious financial crisis," the mayor said. taled. Vice Mayor^John Furry spoke out this week concerning In past elections, absentee bal­ THE'MANAGER OF file store* «, ™TERRY GRIFFITH the possibility that both Issues- ctmld pass. lots were not*counted untiLafter will be Terry Griffith, son of . new manager the other precincts had been fi­ Mr and Mrs Merlyn Griffith of Store hours will be 9 a.m. to «NO MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, CHARGED with the respon­ nalized, and then each ballot 802 S. Church Street. 9 jfcm^daUyt beginning next,Wed- sibility of managing the finances of a community, could justify had to be tallied on one of the , The Buehlers are the sons of nesday, Feb. 21; the store-will spending more money than was necessary," he went on. "We voting machines. City Clerk Don Mrs Gertrude Buehler of 500 S. be closed Sundays. do not want both, but simply the means 'of financing city affairs, Clark said the new method will State Street and the late Paul- The store building, owned by be it the 1 per cent income tax or the 15-mill limitation." be a sort of "dry run* next week D. Buehler. Mrs Buehler is St. Al Daley of St. Johns, provides Mayor Coletta contended that the financial problem of the for the November general elec­ Johns school nurse. about 5,000 square feet of mer­ city; is not hard to understand. Revenue for the 1967-68 fiscal tion when the full value of such chandising are^a. The Two year will be $869,717, he said. Expenses will run $931,908 a counting board will be real­ „ The redecoration of the store Brothers Food Co. store at "under very close budget control. This will leave a deficit of ized. next Monday and Tuesday will Owosso will encompass about $62,191.' Election inspectors for the include painting and rearrange­ 12,000 feet of merchandising area - ment of the aisles. The Buehlers Most of the city revenue comes from property taxes and absentee ballot counting board when an expansion program is water charges, he noted, referring to a "pie" chart depicting will be Carmen Tranchell, Mrs said aisles in the store will be finished there. larger and easier to maneuver in. sources of city revenue. "Income from water charges comes Ruth Slrrine and Mrs Bonnie Plans are to carpet the check- very close to equalling income from property taxes. Therefore Showers. s PAUL" W. BUEHLER is the it does not seem practical to increase water rates. - out and entrance areas, as well Precinct one election inspec­ president of the Two Brothers 'The present deficit plus the projected deficit for 1968 tors will be Herman Pohl as as the space in front of the meat Food Co. He Is a 1953 grad­ counter. makes a total deficit of $90,000. By comprehensive planning chairman, Mrs Alberta Corn- uate of Rodney B". Wilson High and very clbse budget control this can be overcome and the city well, Mrs Marjorie Cowan and The new owners plan to offer School in St. Johns. He served operated efficiently, if either the 15-mill limitation or the l>per Mrs Mary Meyer. Precinct two a larger assortment of soft goods two years in the Marine Corp cent city income tax is approved by the voters. will be Don Britten as chair­ and of hardware items. S. & H. and then graduated from MSU and comes from man, Mrs Elma E. Parr, Mrs Green Stamps will be offered. (Story continued on Page 2-Aj '"IN MY OPINION THE 1 per cent Income tax offers the best Helen L. Fltzpatrlck and Mrs solution as it presents an opportunity for tax reform. According Helen O. Atkinson. to "the best estimates available the* Income tax would collect about $50,000 a year more than is needed to operate the city. Bracey The city commission must/then by law reduce the real and personal property tax to offset this excess. Petitions 'outstanding "I am convinced the property tax can be lowered 3 mills, which is a 20 per cent reduction. ask for "A 20 per cent reduction in property tax would be a great farmer' benefit to many people of our city, especially those with^low incomes or with large families. sidewalks Charles Bracey, 35, a 12- "The disadvantage claimed for the Income tax is that it year-veteran farmer on Meri­ places a larger tax burden on the high income people. This Is A petition signed by 44 resi­ dian Road four miles south of true, but I do not think it is unfair. I believe the fairest tax is a dents was presented to the St. OvIdJ has been chosen by the tax based on the ability to pay.* Johns city Commission last St. Johns Jaycees as the area's Tuesday night calling for instal­ Commissioner, Furry took exception publicly to statements lation of sidewalk along Sturgis, "outstanding young farmer* for of the St.