[Huck]

I have a simple rule of thumb that works pretty good. Whenever I get to vote on a new proposal of any kind that involves some of my money, I vote no.

A few years back in my town, they put a proposal on the ballot for a large sum of money to fix the boiler at the local elementary school. My fellow residents and I voted it down. There was squawking in the local paper, and a while later it came up for a vote again, and again we voted it down. Some months went by, until one day there was a story in the local paper that the town had "found" the money to do the school repairs.

My advice to anyone who will listen--always vote NO. Make them find the money, and if what they are proposing is truly necessary, they'll find it. But you may have to say no more than once.

[Mark was here]

A few years back in my town, they put a proposal on the ballot for a large sum of money to fix the boiler at the local elementary school. My fellow residents and I voted it down. There was squawking in the local paper, and a while later it came up for a vote again, and again we voted it down. Some months went by, until one day there was a story in the local paper that the town had "found" the money to do the school repairs.

Similar thing with the improvements to the Sterling Heights Mi. library.