BENTON HARBOR — For the second time in four years, Benton Harbor voters in November will consider levying a city income tax on themselves and people who work in the city.
City voters rejected the proposal in 2013 by a 667-543 vote.
kAm}@E >F49 92D 492?865 :? 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I =2H[ D2:5 tC:4 {FA96C[ AC6D:56?E @7 r:E:K6?D #6D62C49 r@F?4:=[ 2? :?56A6?56?E C6D62C49 @C82?:K2E:@?]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 aa @FE @7 E96 DE2E6’D afh 4:E:6D =6GJ 2 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I[ H:E9 x@?:2 36:?8 E96 =2DE 4:EJ E@ 25@AE E96 E2I :? `hhc]k^Am
kAm%9:D E:>6[ r:EJ r@>>:DD:@?6C |2CJp=:46 p52>D D2:5 D96 9@A6D :E A2DD6D]k^Am
kAm“%96 ?665 :D 8C62E6C[” D96 D2:5] “%96 9@=6D :? E96 DEC66ED 2C6 3:886C] |@C6 EC66D 92G6 5:65] %96 :??6C>@DE A2CE @7 E96 4:EJ :D DE625:=J 4CF>3=:?8[ 364@>:?8 >@C6 =:76=6DD]”k^Am
kAm|2J@C |2C4FD |F92>>25 D2:5 E96 DEC66ED :? E96 3FD:?6DD 5:DEC:4E 2C6 :? 8@@5 C6A2:C[ 3FE E96 ?6:893@C9@@5 DEC66ED 2C6 56A=@C23=6]k^Am
kAm“x D2:5 :? a_`b E92E E96 4:EJ E2I[ x =@@<65 2E :E 2D 2 =6DD6C 6G:=[” 96 D2:5] “%96 8C62E6C 6G:= H@F=5 36 E@ 2==@H E96 ?6:893@C9@@5D[ E96 DEC66ED[ E96 D:56H2=<D[ E96 2==6JD[ E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ DA:C2= 5@H?] p?5[ BF:E6 7C2?<=J[ :E’D C62==J 56DEC@J:?8 A6@A=6’D G69:4=6D[ 2?5 :E’D >2<:?8 :E G6CJ 5:77:4F=E E@ EC2G6= E9C@F89@FE E96 4:EJ @7 q6?E@? w2C3@C]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 C646?E=J 8@E 2 C6A@CE 7C@> %H:? r:E:6D s:2=\p\#:56 DE2E:?8 E92E A@@C DEC66E 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 56DEC@J:?8 :ED 3FD6D]k^Am
kAm“$@>6E9:?8 >FDE 36 5@?6 H:E9 E96 DEC66ED[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr:EJ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD A2DD65 2 C6D@=FE:@? :? yF=J DE2E:?8 E92E 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I C646:AED H@F=5 36 FD65 E@ C6A2:C E96 DEC66ED[ 2==6JD 2?5 D:56H2=<D[ 2?5 2=D@ 7@C 6>6C86?4:6D[ 2D 564:565 3J E96 >2J@C 2?5 r:EJ r@>>:DD:@?] %96 C6D@=FE:@? H@F=5 D6E FA 2 ?:?6\>6>36C r:EJ x?4@>6 %2I ~G6CD:89E r@>>:EE66 E@ >2<6 DFC6 >@?6J 7C@> E96 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I :D FD65 2AAC@AC:2E6=J]k^Am
kAm}@E 6G6CJ@?6 DFAA@CED E2Ik^Am
kAmy677 }@6=[ 4@CA@C2E6 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 AF3=:4 2772:CD H:E9 (9:C=A@@= r@CA] :? q6?E@? w2C3@C[ D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=65 DE2E6>6?E E92E 2 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I H@F=5 36 2 ?:89E>2C6 E@ 25>:?:DE6C[ C2:D6 =6DD >@?6J E92? A6@A=6 E9:?< 2?5 42FD6 2 =@DD @7 C6G6?F6 2D 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 C6D:56?ED D66< =@H6C 4@DE =@42E:@?D E@ =:G6 2?5 H@C< :?]k^Am
kAm“x7 E96 E2I :D =6G:65[ H6 H:== ?665 E@ 6IA=2:? E@ 9F?5C65D @7 6>A=@J66D H9J H6 ;FDE >@G65 E96> :?E@ E96 #:G6CG:6H 3F:=5:?8 @C E96 q6?E@? w2C3@C %649 r6?E6C D@ E96J 4@F=5 36 E2I65 2E 2 9:896C C2E6 E92? :7 E96J 925 ?@E >@G65[” 96 DE2E65]k^Am
kAm|@C6 E92? `[b__ A6@A=6 H@C< 2E E96 #:G6CG:6H r2>AFD 2E e__ (] |2:? $E] D:?46 E96 E9:C5 A92D6 H2D 4@>A=6E65 =2DE 72==]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C abb A6@A=6 H@C< 2E E96 q6?E@? w2C3@C %649?@=@8J r6?E6C 2E `d` }] #:G6CG:6H sC:G6] %96 4@>A2?J EC2?D7@C>65 E96 7@C>6C=J D9FEE6C65 3F:=5:?8 <?@H? 2D !=2?E f :?E@ 2 ?6H C67C:86C2E:@? E649?@=@8J 46?E6C[ H9:49 @A6?65 :? s646>36C a_`c]k^Am
kAm(9:C=A@@=’D E@E2= :?G6DE>6?E :? q6?E@? w2C3@C 36EH66? a_`_ 2?5 a_`e 7@C ?6H 2?5 C6?@G2E65 724:=:E:6D :D 6DE:>2E65 E@ 36 S`dd >:==:@?] k^Am
kAm“xE 8@6D H:E9@FE D2J:?8 E92E H6 H:== 46CE2:?=J 2G@:5 4C62E:?8 2?J 7FEFC6 ;@3D :? q6?E@? w2C3@C 2?5 :?DE625 7@4FD @? C6=@42E:?8 ;@3D 6=D6H96C6 :? E96 2C62[” }@6= DE2E65] “x? 724E H6 92G6 368F? =@@<:?8 2E H2JD E@ 2=E6C @FC A=2?D 7@C 2 4@FA=6 @7 AC@A6CE:6D =@42E65 :? E96 4:EJ @7 q6?E@? w2C3@C 2?5 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? H2JD H6 42? C6=@42E6 @C 2G@:5 =@42E:@? @7 6>A=@J66D E@ C65F46 E96 F?72:C?6DD E9:D E2I H:== 92G6 @? E96>]”k^Am
kAmy@? z@49[ @H?6C @7 r:EJ pFE@ #6A2:C @? |2:? $EC66E :? q6?E@? w2C3@C[ D2:5 96 @AA@D6D E96 E2I 3642FD6 :E H:== 5C:G6 2H2J 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am
kAm“x7 E9:D A2DD6D[ :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 8@@5 7@C E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D 3642FD6 2?J3@5J H9@ :D 4@>:?8 E@ A@DD:3=J AFE 2 3FD:?6DD :? q6?E@? w2C3@C H:== 8C2G:E2E6 E@ $E] y@6 %@H?D9:A @C q6?E@? %@H?D9:A H96C6 E96J 5@?’E 92G6 2 4:EJ E2I[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr9C:D w6F82=[ AC6D:56?E @7 r@C?6CDE@?6 r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46[ D2:5 >@DE @7 9:D @C82?:K2E:@?’D >6>36CD 36=:6G6 2 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I H@F=5 9FCE E96 4:EJ]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 A@==:?8 @FC >6>36CD[ 2?5 2E E9:D A@:?E[ gh A6C46?E 36=:6G6 :E H@F=5 9:?56C E96:C 8C@HE9[ :E H@F=5 36 2 A2J 4FE 7@C E96:C 6>A=@J66D[ :E H@F=5 42FD6 EFC?@G6C 2?5 9FCE C6E6?E:@?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr:EJ r@>>:DD:@?6C sF2?6 $62ED D2:5 96 :D ?6FEC2= @? E96 E2I AC@A@D2=]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E <?@H 9@H :E H:== 96=A FD C6>2:? 4@>A6E:E:G6[” 96 D2:5] “x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 7:89E :E[ 3FE J@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ D66 >6 42CCJ:?8 2 D:8? 7@C :E[ 6:E96C] $@>69@H[ D@>6H2J[ H6’G6 8@E E@ 86E E9:D :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ E96 DEC66ED[ 7:I65] qFE[ :D E9:D E96 H2Jn”k^Am
kAm(92E :E H@F=5 5@k^Am
kAm%96 AC@A@D65 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I H@F=5 C6BF:C6 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 4:EJ C6D:56?ED E@ A2J ` A6C46?E @? E96:C :?4@>6[ H:E9 ?@?\C6D:56?ED H9@ H@C< :? E96 4:EJ A2J:?8 2 _]d A6C46?E E2I @? E96 A@CE:@? @7 E96:C :?4@>6 E96J 62C? :? E96 4:EJ] xE H@F=5 8@ :?E@ 67764E y2?] `]k^Am
kAm#6E:C6>6?E[ F?6>A=@J>6?E 2?5 H6=72C6 36?67:ED[ 4@>A6?D2E:@? 7@C >:=:E2CJ D6CG:46 2?5 8:7ED H@F=5 ?@E 36 DF3;64E E@ E96 E2I]k^Am
kAm{FA96C D2:5 E96 64@>@>:4 C6DF=ED 92G6 366? >:I65 H96C6 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I6D 92G6 366? =6G:65]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 4:E:6D H:E9 2 =2C86 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 H9@ H@C< 3FE 5@?’E =:G6 :? E96 4:EJ E6?5 E@ 5@ 36EE6C H:E9 2 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I]k^Am
kAm“(96? E96C6’D 2 F?:G6CD:EJ @C 2 3FD:?6DD H:E9:? E96 4@>>F?:EJ H96C6 A6@A=6 2C6 EC2G6=:?8 7C@> @FED:56 3FE FD:?8 4:EJ D6CG:46D[ 9@H 5@ J@F >2:?E2:? E96 D6CG:46D 2?5 36?67:E 7C@> E92E 64@?@>:4 24E:G:EJn” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm{FA96C D2:5 96 5@6D?’E E9:?< 2 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I H:== <66A A6@A=6 @C 3FD:?6DD6D 2H2J]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E 5:D>:DD :E 2D 2 ?@?\724E@C] x ;FDE 5@?’E E9:?< :E’D 2 562= 3C62<6C[” 96 D2:5] “w@H >2?J A6@A=6 >2<6 =@42E:@? 564:D:@?D 32D65 @? ` A6C46?En”k^Am
kAm}@ DEF5:6D 92G6 366? 5@?6 E@ 42=4F=2E6 9@H >F49 >@?6J E96 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I H@F=5 86?6C2E6 :? q6?E@? w2C3@C]k^Am
kAm{FA96C D2:5 E96 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I :? p=3:@?[ H9:49 :D 23@FE E96 D2>6 D:K6 2D q6?E@? w2C3@C[ 86?6C2E6D 23@FE S` >:==:@? 2 J62C] w6 D2:5 E92E 4:EJ 92D p=3:@? r@==686[ H9:49 6>A=@JD 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E =:G6 :? E96 4:EJ]k^Am
kAmr:EJ :?4@>6 :D 72==:?8 k^Am
kAm$FAA@CE6CD @7 E96 :?4@>6 E2I D2J E96 4:EJ 92D E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 E@ C2:D6 >@C6 >@?6J @C E96 D:EF2E:@? :D 8@:?8 E@ 86E H@CD6]k^Am
kAmx? yF?6[ r:EJ |2?286C s2CH:? (2ED@? C6A@CE65 E92E 86?6C2= 7F?5 C6G6?F6 5C@AA65 2=>@DE Sa__[___ 7C@> E96 a_`d\`e 3F586E E@ E96 a_`f\`g 3F586E – 7C@> Sf]`c >:==:@? E@ Se]hd >:==:@?]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 :E H2D >@DE=J 5F6 E@ 4@>>6C4:2= 3FD:?6DD6D 92G:?8 E96:C AC@A6CEJ G2=F6D C65F465 3J E96 |:49:82? %2I %C:3F?2=]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@?[ 4:EJ 4@>>:DD:@?6CD 925 E@ 2AAC@G6 E2<:?8 Sach[___ @FE @7 :ED 7F?5 32=2?46 E@ A2J 7@C E96 F?6IA64E65 =@DD :? E2I C6G6?F6 :? E96 a_`e\`f 7:D42= J62C[ H9:49 6?565 yF?6 b_]k^Am
kAm|F92>>25 D2:5 E96 6C@D:@? @7 q6?E@? w2C3@C’D AC@A6CEJ E2I 32D6 3J E96 |%% :D 4@?E:?F:?8] w6 D2:5 E96C6 2C6 A6?5:?8 42D6D 367@C6 E96 |%% 7C@> (9:C=A@@= 2?5 w2C3@C $9@C6D]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 E96 D2>6 A6@A=6 8@:?8 E@ E96 |:49:82? %2I %C:3F?2= E@ 92G6 E96:C AC@A6CEJ E2I6D 4FE :? 92=7 2C6 E96 D2>6 @?6D 282:?DE E96 4:EJ :?4@>6 E2I[” 96 D2:5] “%96 ?6:893@C9@@5D ?665 2 H2J E@ C6G:G6]”k^Am
kAmr@?E24Ei k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i=HC686o%96w!]4@>Qm=HC686o%96w!]4@>k^2m[ hba\_be`[ %H:EE6Ci ow!(C686k^Am

