Citizens Launch Effort Challenging County's LifeWays Building Bond Decision
The group will have 45 days to collect nearly 4,000 signatures.
Hillsdale County—A group of citizens in Hillsdale County are making an effort to give the public a voice after the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners recently decided to pursue the issuance of a $15.5 million building bond for LifeWays.
The group, which is called Citizens for Hillsdale County, will have to acquire over 3,700 signatures on its petition within a 45-day window of a notice posted in the Hillsdale Daily News on 20 May.
If the group collects a sufficient number of signatures within that timeframe, the building bond would then go before the people on a ballot, to be voted on directly in a referendum, likely to be held either in August or November.
According to Citizens for Hillsdale County, “this measure is NOT in the best interests of the county and deserves to be voted on by taxpayers who will bear the financial burden!”
The choice of the commissioners, the group added, “left many Hillsdale County residents feeling like their voices were not heard” after the board voted for the bond.
Andrea Clark, a member of Citizens for Hillsdale, told the Hillsdalian that the group hopes to stop the issuance of the bond, not stop LifeWays altogether.
“This petition effort is about protecting Hillsdale County taxpayers and our public safety funds from substantial and unnecessary financial risk,” Clark said.
“Lifeways’ services, and even their expansion, will continue uninterrupted without this bond. With all the risk and no benefit on the side of the County, it is clear that this bond measure is not in the best interests of the taxpayers.”
Citizens for Hillsdale County can be contacted via the email address listed here.
Jacob Bruns
Related Links:
In 3-2 Vote, Commissioners Approve LifeWays Bond Despite Public Protest
LifeWays to Solicit $15.5 Million Bond from Hillsdale County Commissioners
LifeWays Likely to Solicit County Board Again for a Bond at Tuesday's Meeting
LifeWays to Solicit County Backing for Building Bond Next Week
Commissioners Move Forward with LifeWays Bond Request
County Would be Liable for LifeWays Building Bond, Says Bond Counsel
Commissioners Set to Vote on $15.5 Million LifeWays Building Bond