Because of the way that Michigan property taxes are allocated, the income from a new Wal-Mart store would not be enough to pay for the additional expenses needed for roads, police protection and fire protection. bedfordwatch.com did a study of the benefits of a Wal Mart coming to our township and we could not believe how little each person would receive in a tax break compared to the destruction of our township. 

This study is based on a 20 million dollar store that is built in Bedford Township with 30,000 residents  and each full time police officer costing the township $80,000.

FACTS:

ON A 20 MILLION DOLLAR STORE, THE TOWNSHIP WOULD COLLECT:
 
$8,000 IN THE OPERATING FUND
$8,980 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
$2,390 FOR OUR PARKS
$1,964 FOR OUR TRANSIT SYSTEMS
$7,185 FOR OUR LIBRARY
$1,256 FOR OUR SEWER SYSTEMS
$4,000 FOR ADDITIONAL POLICE PROTECTION.  THIS $4,000 WOULD NOT EVEN PAY FOR ONE ADDITIONAL  POLICE OFFICER FOR 3 WEEKS.

PROCEEDS FROM SALES TAX WOULD BE ZERO DOLLARS.
ADDITIONAL ROAD MONIES FROM THE STATE WOULD BE ZERO DOLLARS.
ADDITIONAL OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE SCHOOLS WOULD BE ZERO DOLLARS.


TOTAL BENEFIT TO BEDFORD TOWNSHIP:  $59, 592 OR $1.99 FOR EVERY RESIDENT. 
TOTAL BENEFIT TO BEDFORD SCHOOLS:  $19, 200 OR .64 cents FOR EVERY RESIDENT. 

Would you trade a loss of $25,000 to $75,000 in property values and the destruction of Bedford Township for  $1.99?
 
CLICK HERE to view this study.