The Michigan Daily-Thursday, September 4, 1980-Page 3-C Economics marks tie ANNARBOR CITY GOVERNMENT Mayor: Louis Belcher (R) 761-5836 between city and 'U' By LEE KATTERMAN Almost daily we hear tales of woe about our economy, whether from the sparring presidential candidates or from students who must dig that much deeper into their pockets to pay for this year's tuition. With pecuniary problems on the tip of nearly everyone's tongue, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that financial matters are *hbigh on the agenda when University- and city officials meet. After living and growing together for over 140 years, the needs and concerns-economic and otherwise-of both the Universtiy and the City of Ann Arbor have become permanently intertwined. And while the University pays no property taxes on its 2600 acres in Ann Arbor, its presence plays a major role in the well being of the city. "The University of Michigan provides a huge economic base for the City of Ann Ar- bor," said Ann Arbor Mayor Louis Belcher. He pointed out that a number of high technology firms have located in the city to be close to the University- "And don't forget football Saturdays," he added. "They bring lots of business to the city, too." TO BEGIN, THE 33,000 students at- tending the University mean thousands of dollars of business for local eateries, stores and the like. Add to that more than $2 million in salaries paid annually to University employees, with their corresponding city taxes, and the effect of lost property taxes seems to diminish. But it's not a one-way street, with the city as the University's beneficiary. All residents of the city are entitled to city services, such as police and fire protec- tion, and the University is no exception. According to Belcher, about 40 per cent of the city's $6 million annual outlay for the fire department is spent on University protection. And to look to football Saturdays again, a recent Ann Arbor City Council report on police overtime listed the cost of traffic and crowd control near Michigan Stadium for last fall's seven football games at nearly $60,000. PART OF THE MONEY Ann Arbor spends on these services is regained through a direct payment from the pncation so the University could buy new buses to replace an aging fleet. Only last spring did AATA finally take formal action on the request by authorizing a study of the University bus system. GENERALLY THOUGH, both Belcher and University President Harold Shapiro characterize the relationship between their respective organizations with words such as "close" and "positive." Shapiro also said there are many non- economic areas of cooperation. As examples, he cited the summer Art Fair and a proposed theatre festival. The theatre project is a large under- taking envisioned to rival the Stratford Shakespearean festival in Canada. A planning committee with members representing both the city and the University is aiming for a summer 1981 starting date for the festival, with six University stages scheduled to be utilized during the four to six week af- fair. Anotherreality,of Ann Arbor as home of the University of Michigan is the high cost and demand for housing. The University operates units capable of housing about a third of Michigan students. The remainder must turn to the local market where the vacancy rate has shrunk to less than one per cent. The result is_ an expensive and tight market with little being done by either the city or the University to im- prove the situation. But whether it's housing or road repair, the fate of the city and Univer- sity is a joint venture. Just" as the University is intermingled throughout Ann Arbor, so must city and University planners consider both organizations' needs if both are to prosper in the coming decade. 1st Ward: Kenneth Latta (D) 994-5384 Susan Greenburg (D) 761-3253 2nd Ward: Leslie Morris (D) 769-3758 Earl Greene (D) 662-8307 3rd Ward : Louis Senunas (R) 665-2482 Clifford Sheldon (R) 665-5893 4th Ward: Edward Hood (R) 769-5236 David Fisher (R) 995-2054 5th Ward: Joyce Chesbrough (R) 761-8257 Gerald Bell (R) 662-3381 The First and Second Wards in Ann Arbor represent the campus area. The First Ward, represented by Latta and Greenburg (who was reelected last spring), covers the area surrounding West and South Quads. The Second Ward, where Greene was reelected in April to serve with Morris, is located on the east side of campus around the "hill dorms." SUSAN GREENBURG and Earl Greene were both reelected'to their campus-areas wards last April. state government to the city coffers. This payment comes to about $1 million a year, not nearly enough to cover the expense. The University budget allows some payments for police services at special events and the U splits costs such as police overtime with the city. A money matter that's been under discussion between the city and the University concerns transportation. About four years ago, the city ap- proached the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) with a request that AATA sponsor a $3 million grant ap- Local represent areas of con ce By ELAINE RIDEOUT "The second Congressional district contains the largest student body in the nation, with almost 85,000 students," said Rep. Carl Pursell (R-Plymouth) from the state capitol in Lansing. "It is one of the nation's more diverse distric- ts." Pursell represents Ann Arbor in Michigan's Congress along with Sen. Edward Pierce (D-Ann Arbor). While they serve for the city's welfare in Lan- sing, Ann Arbor's State Representative Perry Bullard, a Democrat, lives in the city. It is these three men who voice the sentiment of Ann Arbor (and the University) to the state and" federal governments, and who promote their own philosophies in the best interest of :their constitutents here. BULLARD, a graduate from the University's law school, said student support is crucial to his career. "There is a tremendous economic crises in the state right now," he said, citing the Tisch tax reduction amen- dment as a threat to higher education in the state. "If Tisch succeeds, tuitition will go up and the quality of the Univer- sity will decline," he predicted. "Students have an important stake in defeating this kind of nonsense." He said that he is concerned with other student issues. "It's important to make financial assistance available to 0 students," he said. He added he is ad- vocating a lowering of the drinking age to 19. "I've also led the legislature in the advance of decriminalizing marijuana legislation," he sr id. Bullard, who serves on a number of House committees, has sponsored legislation including the open meeting act, the auto lemon bill, tenants rights legislation prohibiting eviction without due process, and solar tax credit im- ,provement legislation. He will oppose Ann Arbor Republican Rary Barton, independent candidate Ronald Graham, and Libertarian can- didate Jeffrey Quck in November. DR. EDWARD PIERCE, Ann Arbor Democrat, is serving his first term in the Michigan Senate. Pierce, a Univer- sity Medical School graduate and for- mer physican and city councilman, said his biggest priority is working to keep the costs of health care as low as possible without jeopardizing quality. "I'd like to see the general medicaid system made into a less wasteful system," he said. He considers housing to be the issue of biggestconcern to students in Ann Arbor. "Students have a real problem with housing," he noted. "I would think the students could form some sort of pressure either at the state or univer- sity level to produce some changes." Pierce said students must become in- volved actively and voice their own in- terests or their issues will not be the priority of area legislators. "Students make up a significant group of people, but their voice is not heard nearly as much as most people's," he said. Pierce, who serves on three Senate committees, blamed lack of education, not apathy to student awareness. "I don't think the educational process in the public schools give a real awareness of the way the political system work," he said. Carl Pursell, a former state senator, county commissioner, businessman, and high school- teacher will seek reelection to a third term in the U.S. House in November. Pursell said his campaign em- phasizes his close attention to district constituents, legislative accomplish- ments in education and other fields, and his elevation to the House Ap- propriations Committee. "Key issues for the 80's are inflation control, limits on government, energy, and restoration of a sound economy," Pursell said. "I've been working on these issues by supporting a balanced budget shared by all departments, proposing a five-year tax cut program, and leadership on development of new sources of energy." Pursell considers draft registration, unemployment, and finding a job after graduation as issues that concern students most. "Some of my biggest priorities lie in the areas of gifted and talented education, student loans, and funding for student training programs," he said. Pursell will face Republican challenger Helen Gotowka in an August primary, and, if victorious will oppose Democrat Catherine O'Reilly in November. 'atives pinpoint 1e in to1 students :. t x . 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