Dear Neighbors,
On March 27, 2023, I made a presentation to my fellow Village of Lake Orion Council members on the financial position of the village.
Since 1985, the village council has been systematically giving away almost 100 percent of new development tax revenues and close to 25 percent of total property tax revenues to the Downtown Development Authority, local developers, and special interest groups.
This precedent shows that there will be no future tax revenues in our fully-developed community for maintenance and repairs of our infrastructure, except through tax increases to the property owners and doubling of our water and sewer bills.
The presentation included historical data of the village budget, showing that no provisions have been made for infrastructure repairs in any substantial way. Maintenance, replacement and improvement budgeting is nonexistent. Only band-aid repairs have been made for as far back as I can find data. No money is earmarked for simple tasks such as repairing the huge hole in the village council hall ceiling.
At the close of my presentation questions were raised that the facts may not be “accurate.”
My first question is where have these people been for the last 20 years that they do not know the facts about village finances?
Next, why is the village selling bonds to acquire yet another property that will not give tax revenues to the village when there is no money to pave our dilapidated streets?
Lastly, to whom and where is our tax money going and why? Follow the money. The facts are there.
You can watch the meeting on www.ontv.org. Data is available at www.councilmanlamb.com.
Michael Lamb
Councilman
Village of Lake Orion