How Did You Vote, Why, and What Now?

Following up on our report from Chris Root regarding trends revealed by the quantitative data from the November 7 election, we asked voters to tell us qualitatively why they voted yes or no on the income tax. We also asked them what they think the City should do now to deal with its financial problems.

A total of 326 people responded to our anonymous survey. Of those, all answered the question about how they voted on the income tax, although all did not give reasons. All but two respondents gave some answer about what they think the City should do now to deal with the financial challenges ahead.

Why people voted for the income tax:

Those who voted in favor of the income tax gave many reasons for doing so, but common responses included a desire to maintain city services and quality of life. Many respondents were also concerned about maintaining emergency services, meeting obligations to retirees, and providing a way for the City to make up revenue lost by the State cutting back on revenue-sharing.

A number of “yes” voters said they don’t believe that an income tax would really discourage people from buying homes in East Lansing, and some said they thought reducing property taxes (which would have happened had the income tax passed) would attract homebuyers and increase property values.

Some “yes” voters specifically stated that they thought MSU should bear some of the cost of operating the City because of how MSU students “strain” resources. In general, the “yes” voters felt the income tax was necessary and reasonable, even if some expressed a lack of trust in City government to manage revenue well. Not all “yes” voters felt enthusiastic, and some said they were voting for it because, with the property tax reduction, they would be personally better off.

Why people voted against the income tax:

Some “no” voters had the same personal reason for voting “no”—how it would impact them personally—but many “no” voters had principled reasons for their votes. A number said that they found it unacceptable to cause a greater financial burden to renters and people on the lower-end of the income spectrum, or to harm businesses and employees that work in the City.

Many named “mismanagement” by the current and past City governments, with some adding that they specifically do not trust this Council, Mayor, and City Manager. Some said they were frustrated by “tax breaks and incentives” going to developers.

“No” voters also said the City should work on “belt-tightening”—cost-cutting and lowering financial obligations. Some said it was unreasonable to tax nonresidents. Some also said the proposals were poorly executed, rushed, or confusingly worded.

You can read the complete set of responses to this survey question by clicking here.

What voters think the City should do now:

Survey respondents had lots of diverse suggestions about what the City should do now, including trying to pass an income tax again, trying again to get MSU to pay East Lansing more funds for emergency services, and trying to do more to cut expenses and build revenue in some other fashion. Some thought, for example, the City could ask voters to bond for repairs to sidewalks and roads, or that the City could cut benefits to employees.

Many respondents suggested it might make sense to cut services, or to charge more for those services, or to privatize some of them. Services or faciltiies named include the Hannah Community Center, the Family Aquatic Center, bulk leaf pick-up, garbage collection, the soccer complex, various festivals, and the Prime Time Senior program.

Others suggested more cost-cutting collaborations with neighboring municpalties. A few people said the East Lansing Public Library should be part of CADL (the Capital Area District Library). Several people suggested closing the firehouse on the MSU campus. Some people called for fewer “tax breaks” to businesses and developers.

You can read the complete set of responses to this survey question by clicking here.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to the survey.