Republicans ,charge Oem's
finance plan is d for business
tax, but you do increase the sales
tax, they're going to be paying
higher taxes overall."
Democrats acknowledge that
the sales tax would mean a net
increase of over $600 million.
But the increase is necessary to
. 'resolve inequities in education
in the state, and taxpayers. must
decide whether or not they are
willing to foot the bill, Owen
said.
"They've got to make their
vote for whether or not they
want to increase support for
education," he said.
State Chamber of Commerce
President James Barrett said
business leaders have very
serious reservations about a net
increase f the magnitude the Marine Lance Cpl. Kenny J.
Democrats have proposed, but Booth, son of 'Andrew J. Booth
that some increase might be ac- and Eliza Bady, both of Benton
ceptable. Harbor, recently returned to
"We may be willing to support Morehead City, N.C., from a six-
a slight increase if there are month deployment to the
statutory guarantees that the Mediterranean with 22nd
money will be spent for educa- Marine Expeditionary Unit.,
tion," Barrett said. Camp Lejeune, N.C. �
According to Owen, the plan Con i ting of more than 1,900
favors small busines es, which Marin sand Saliors, the unit
he said would benefit most from was one of the largest air combat
a property tax reduction. clements ever to deploy to the
"Our approach gives almost Mediterranean during
all (he busine s tax relief to small peacetime.
businesses," Owen said. "Ob- A 1983 graduate of Benton
viously, the first $30,000 SEV Harbor High School, he joined
reduction for a Chrysler plant is the Marine Corps in April 1983.\
not very substantial. It can �
substantial for the corner../ Marine Cpl. Todd E. Ed­
drugstore." wards, son of Mr. and Mrs. O.c.
But Rep. Richard Bandstra, -Child: of 795 Lynch, Benton
R-Grand Rapids, said he is con- Harbor, has been promoted to
his pre. ent rank while seving
with 2nd Marine Divi ion, Camp
Lejeune, N.C .
A 19 2 graduate of Benton
Harg r High chool, he joined
the Marine oro in April 19
By JeDDlfet Ward
Capital News Service
LANSING The
Democratic school finance
reform proposal would result in
a huge net tax increase and un­
fairly burden businesses, House
and Senate Republicans con­
tend.
The lawmaker argue that the
plan introduced by Gov. James
Blanchard and House Speaker
Gary Owen last week fails to
provide businesses significant
property tax' relief to compen­
sate for a proposed 2 percent
sales tax hike.
The Democrats' plan to. ex­
empt the rust S30,OOO of state
equalized value (SEV) would
cut business school property
taxes by an average of 12 percent
- not enough, according to some .
lawmaker. .
"Businesses will be paying
more sales tax," Sen. Vernon Eh­
ler R -Grand Rapids, said. "If .
you don't decrease the property
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cern that Democrats are billing would be "miniscul
the proposal as small-business - "It's not
tax relief. The corner drugstore solutely no ing,"
or the barbershop, he said, are Owen sai the school finance
not the only businesses which reform pia is not a -proper
need property tax relief. vehicle for' a y large- cale busi-
"That is not small business," _ ness propert tax relif , and that
Bandstra said. "There are others such a progr m sh uld tand on
with eight or 10 employees with it own meri . A version passed
real and personal property, and by the Re ublican-controlled
this does not give any significant Senate in M rch put too much
property tax relief to those busi- responsibilit for school finance
nesses." on individua , he said. '
Bandstra said that for most The Sena e plan called for a
businesses the tax reduction business pr perty t cut of
about 35 per nt and residential
property tax duction of 50 per­
cet.
"I think orne people are
sa . ng now t at w 've done all
we can to m ke business com­
petitive, and 're gelling to the
point where it's an unfair tax
burden on i dividual ," Owen
said.
Benton Harbor men In
the service
Carnell Gary is a contestant
r for prince of the Michigan State
Quartette Convention and will
represent Twin-Cities Quartette
Union Local 20-2 on the 21st of
May in Detroit.
He will be competing against
contestant from Detr it Pon­
tiac and Grand Rapid Locals.
One of the fund-rai er for
him i a Big Give-Away. First
prize: 100 and e ond prize
$50. Date, aturday, May 14.
Donation $1.00 per ticket.
Tickets arc on ale now and
may be purchased from any
Quartette Union member, Bell's
Beauty Shop, M&M Garage,
. and Betty'S CI aners.
Carnell wa crowned prince
of the ational Quartette Con­
vention of America in Dallas,
Texas last August.
I
GO
( ROBERT."
.BELL
CONTRACTOR
. (. Rob - On . arle trcet
PAINTING.\ DECORATING
ROOFING*TILE·MARBLE
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STATE LICENSED
310 Searles Street
926·6859
Benton Harbor, Mt 49022
Sundays
2:00 P.M.
MERCHANTS HALL
Fairplam Plaza
Ber Cnty. Dern. Party
BI
Mond.ys
6:30 P.M.
MERCHANTS HALL
Fairplain Plaza
Young Oem ... h c�o.o.c.
Thur:ad'YI
6:30 P.M.
MERCHANTS HALL
F
FridaY'
8:30 P. .
MERCHANTS HALL
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4th CoAg. Dist. Oem. Com .
Saturdays
6:30 P.M.
MERCHANTS HALL
Fairplain Plaza
Exec. Conim. B.C.D.P .
Cltiaeft
Parenting
classes begin
at Readiness
Center
The Readiness Center an­
nounces its second annual
Parenting Series. The program
is free and will be held in the
basement of St. John's Church
on the corner . o� Catalpa and
Columbus in Benton Harbor.
The series of six classes
begins April 22 and continues
for the next five Fridays, from
12:00-2:00 p.m.
Each session begins with
lunch, followed by a formal
presentation. Audience par­
ticipation i planned, and there
wi 11 b games and d or prizes.
- The schedule is: - April 22,
"Being a good parent is hard -
How to communicate better
with your children;
- April 29, "Positive feelings
begin at Home."
- -May 6, I What to d in­
tead of nagging."
- May 13, "Whole me inex­
p nsive alternatives to TV -
learning games, book and story
telling ... It
- May 20, " elf-esteem - a
·nece. sary step in education,"
Bertha King, Jordan ollege.
- -May 27, I Open Forum."
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