East Lansing Considers Asking REsidents For Income Tax

City officials in East Lansing could ask its residents to vote and approve a city income tax. WILX.com reports that the plan is in its very early stages. City leaders are simply researching the possibility, looking to see if it may be a viable source of revenue to help offset increasing costs of pensions and retiree healthcare for city workers.

The WILX story explains that the City of East Lansing's budget is very dependent upon property taxes. With property values unstable in the city, leaders are looking for some sort of steadiness in the revenue stream. In the end, if the question of instituting a city income tax is put forth to voters, all retirees and some students would likely be exempt. Affected residents would likely be asked for about one percent of their annual income.