|
Establish that all public records be available online and accurate. Also that upon appropriating funds, there be established a rating method to evaluate the effectiveness of the investments of those funds. These parameters be evaluated every year, and perhaps more often the first year as being on track. Leaving Federal matching funds unmatched is usually a dreadful loss of public investment returns. Monitoring of the projects to their parameter goals yields improvements.  Federal Government value-engineering study
Office of Management and Budget I will strive to setup performance measurements for all tax funded programs. I will prioritize county spending through citizen input, and only fund programs that provide real value for tax dollars. Small, or Large, well run projects, showing value to the public will be favored. Those that are not, will be reviewed, given a chance to prove themselves, and if not, the public will move the dollars to better projects.
I want to hear that our county is more effective and a lower tax burden than other counties and regions.
I believe that government employee benefits, should be average with the private sector. The job descriptions and performance reviews should align with the equivalent talent compensation offered in the private sector. Public sector employees should have a review every year against their performance goals, and also compared to those of competitive regions. When it comes to wages and benefits, there should be a public vote with a super-majority (66%) convinced into supporting proven position needs. I am against abuse of the system in allowing public employees obtain more than one public retirement payment or benefits package. Most states have already outlawed double dipping. Returning to work is no problem, with the understanding that retirement payments will be deferred until they retire once again. Training of a successor should phase out the retiree. Public jobs should be reduced, or consolidated where workload is too light to sustain staff levels.
I am OK with public employees working more than one job, even in the private sector, so long as it does not impact the public job. As a recent example, Police officers working other jobs, say as a security gurard. Police officers are trained and expected to be our public ready first responders - at any time of need. So safeguards to prevent fatigue, etc. must be taken into account, so as performance for public safety is not compromised. Double shifts, both private, public, or mixed lead to fatique. Care must be taken to maximize the public trust in best value for their services, with priority over the private sector. Once a leader in energy competition, Great Lakes State now lags behind the Midwest  Average price of electricity, Michigan vs. the country
Michigan's Public Service Commission — the state's electric and natural gas regulators — published a new report reviewing electric choice policies as an alternative way to keep electric prices low. Unfortunately, the report underplays the success that Michigan had from its relatively brief electric choice experiment when electricity prices dropped to benefit all residents. Michigan, like other states, has long regulated the supply and delivery of electricity. The state is divided into service territories dominated by regulated suppliers, either Consumers Energy or Detroit Edison for about 90 percent of Michigan customers. Michigan once had one of the most successful electricity competition laws and policies in the country, and electricity customers received clear and measurable benefits from this competition while it lasted. Please see rest of the article at: http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19246 Bring back Electric Choice! I'd like to ask... What have the power companies done to lower the cost of electricity? I have no problem with opening up competition, provided:
Be a catalyst to encourage young generations to sponsor activities that they like and attract others to participate. Generate a young apprentice challenge for the young people to excel with their own talents
With vibrant cities and Michigan’s existing world-class university system, the state will retain more of the best and brightest needed to compete in the global knowledge-based economy.
 We have natural resources that serve as the foundation for the quality of life of our citizens, contribute to the economic vitality of our county, and offer a competitive advantage as we transition into a new technology era. The county must make smart investments and develop long range plans focused on safeguarding its citizens, protecting the environment, and ensuring that our natural treasures are preserved for future generations. Washtenaw must also support industries like agriculture, tourism, outdoor recreational activities, and renewable energy. Priority should be given to streamlining the permitting processes to allow freer flow of investment dollars into the county.
 The FairTax is Fair - (Don't confuse with Flat or VAT Tax proposals) It replaces the federal income tax system, which taxes what we earn, with a tax on what we spend. The FairTax is a consumption tax: the more you buy, the more you pay in taxes; the less you buy, the less you pay in taxes. So everyone pays fairly when they choose to spend, including illegal immigrants, foreign visitors (about 50,000 each year), and those who evade paying taxes under the income tax system. The FairTax:
FAIR TAX CALCULATOR ---> http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=calculator Michael Reagan Becomes Honorary Chairman of the FairTax National Victory Campaign Friday, January 15, 2010 FairTax will attract trillions of dollars of foreign investment into the U.S. economy and bring back trillions more in American investments currently in offshore accounts and investments, expand the national tax base dramatically to include taxation of those who illegally avoid taxation or benefit from special tax breaks to the politically powerful, and lift the weight of federal taxes and payroll deductions entirely from millions of poor and elderly. "It is the shortest path to full economic recovery and millions of new jobs, ending Congressional corruption of the tax code and providing significant tax relief to the middle class", he said. "The FairTax ends the special benefits enjoyed by the political class which has so badly hurt our economy."  |
