Revised platform approved

On Feb. 6, 2010, the Benzie County Democratic Party adopted the following platform:

The Benzie County Democratic Party believes that strong leadership at all levels of local government is essential for achieving progressive goals that enhance the wellbeing of the county’s people. The party advocates working to achieve local governance that can consistently provide comprehensive, efficient service while maintaining the highest possible level of transparency.

The Economy

 The county's master plan is the foundation for solid economic development. It respects both private and public property rights, protects the county's natural beauty, and allows for business development
and taxpayer savings. We support the enactment of the incentives called for in the plan that guide growth to areas with existing public infrastructure, preserving open space while strengthening existing population centers.

 Government leadership is needed to maintain our economy’s seasonal strengths (tourism, recreation, and agriculture) while stimulating new business and employment opportunities and protecting our abundant natural resources. We must develop strategies to advance innovative policies that encourage new, year-round economic activity. We recognize that most county employment is with small businesses that can be fostered by government and other organizations.

 We support action to attract new technologies, such as universal high-speed broadband access and alternative energy sources like wind power, that will help the county retain residents and attract investments by new residents and cutting-edge businesses. We also affirm support for the arts, historic preservation, and other cultural assets that make Benzie County a desirable place.

 County and local governments must maximize state, federal, and private-sector money so local leaders can better serve local businesses and people. To attract small business grants, we advocate a more systematic and targeted way of working with home-grown businesses and entrepreneurs to pursue those funds.

 Food production is a core element of our local economy. The existence of farmland also enhances tourism and recreation. Local government can promote farm success by working with farmers to maximize their businesses profitability. We support investigating the purchase or transfer of development rights from farmers as one win-win solution that has worked elsewhere. We encourage other strategies, including diversified growing practices and market outlets, and promoting the consumption of locally grown food.

 Local government can enhance our tourism and recreation economic sectors by working to promote our landscape and the many activities people enjoy here. Paramount to successful promotion of resources is preservation of public access to our public waters, strong enforcement of environmental and recreational rules, and proactive working relationships with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Maintaining environmental quality is
essential to these efforts.

Community Life

 Local government must be efficient, effective, and open if it is to serve those who elect it. Financial accountability and fairness, along with quality service, are the local Democratic Party's goals for Benzie County. Recognizing that no democracy can function properly without public involvement and public knowledge, Benzie Democrats support full compliance by all government units with The Open Meetings Act (PA 267) and The Freedom of Information Act (PA 442).

 We support creative and cost-effective solutions to such important issues as sewer and water services, road maintenance, and responsible land use policy. We encourage our county government and the 19 local governments within the county to increase coordination, cooperation, and resource sharing to cut government’s cost while boosting its effectiveness.

 Affordable family housing is a critical need in the county. We support innovative approaches to increase its availability: incentives for developers to include quality, modest units in their projects; special financing approaches; and zoning that allows for smaller units and higher density when this complements existing development.

 A public transit system is vital. The Benzie Bus, our countywide bus system, now renders essential services to seniors, students, working people, and people with disabilities. We support continued transit funding and further system development.

People

 The most fundamental strategy for economic prosperity and community wellbeing is investing in the ability of people to participate fully in their communities and lead healthy and productive lives. We are firmly committed to this goal. We advocate innovation to counter current cuts to state and federal social services by providing leadership and partnering with the community’s broad range of civic, religious, and charitable organizations.

 We support strong basic education that includes the creative arts. Investment in the county’s young people, particularly in their transition to adulthood, through education, job training and mentoring, are essential to our community’s long-term success. In today’s economic environment, youth need diverse and accelerated classes, as well as safe places to congregate and network.

 Innovative and aggressive workforce training and enrichment promote business success, stimulate the economy, and build family prosperity. We advocate employee training programs, continuing education opportunities, and targeted assistance that can help people achieve and maintain long-term success as employees.

 Affordable access to health care is a priority for Benzie Democrats. Local governments can support public health care initiatives, such as the current effort to develop a community-based health plan for Benzie, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse Counties.

Conclusion

The Benzie County Democratic Party advocates collaboration to strengthen our communities and enhance the lives of residents. Local government can foster cooperation between public and private entities.
Achieving progress in our communities requires highly competent and transparent governance. As we move Benzie County in this direction, we will create a shared commonwealth that will be cherished by
life-long residents and visitors alike.

Our stance in 2009: a review

Although 2009 held no major elections, it was an eventful year. Benzie Democrats remained visible in our local media, and we released several public statements on various issues throughout the year. Here is a recap.

We passed two resolutions and sent them to the State Party for the state platform.
Property Taxes and School Funding: A resolution that called for convening a committee to examine all aspects of Proposal A, the state constitutional amendment, in effect since 1994, that’s designed to limit property tax increases using the Consumer Price Index until the property’s ownership is transferred. Proposal A has a major effect on local school funding and other governmental units.
Medical Marijuana: We support such federal bills as HR 5842 that would end federal intervention in states allowing Medical Marijuana. We support such federal bills as HR 5843, and support legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana like alcohol and tobacco.

We also issued statements on several other issues.
Health insurance reform: Benzie Democratic Committee Executive Board voted on Sept. 5 to “strongly endorse” the inclusion of a publicly funded option for all in the national health care legislation under consideration in Washington.
Financial Mess: We said “It is a disgrace to have Wall Street firms and the big banks handing out bonuses with the help of our bailout dollars. These banks were given huge infusions of U.S. government funds but are not making loans to help the struggling economy. The banks are not being socially responsible. It is time they acted in the public interest.”
School Millage Vote: We supported the two tax renewals for county schools. Both Benzie County Central Schools and Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools sought renewals of the 18 mills Non-Homestead tax and the 2.5 mills Headlee Override. Both passed in Nov. 2009.
Zoning: We urged that there be no gap in zoning anywhere in the county and opposed the county commission plan to rescind the its zoning ordinance and withdraw funding for the county planning program as of Jan. 2010. We noted that the decision “puts Benzie County at great risk.”
Jail Millage: The board supported renewal of the jail millage, which passed in Nov. 2009.
In the community service arena, we held to food drives for a local food bank and assisted with two Thompsonville events, Summerfest and a holiday party for kids and families.

— Kathy Ralston, Chair

The economic stimulus and Benzie County

You may have heard about the stimulus package’s many “shovel-ready projects,” but what of the little things that add up to big dollars? For example, the unemployment benefit increase of $25 a week per recipient may not sound like much, until you know the number of people who are unemployed in our county. (Employment figures and other labor information can be found at the website of the Michigan Labor and Economic Growth Department.

According to the state labor department, the June 2009 statewide unemployment rate was   15.2%, an increase of 1.1% over the previous month and an increase of 7.1% from the previous June. There is no easy way to determine the number of people who will be able to get additional weeks of unemployment in advance, but consider the effect of just the $25.00 per week increase: it is known that for every $5.00 spent locally, the local economy gains $9.20 in economic activity.

For Benzie County, population 17,396, February’s total workforce was 8,735 people with 15.4% being unemployed. There were 7,388 people employed and 1,347 people unemployed. An increase of $25.00 each week (1,347 x 25) provides an additional $33,675.00 for the families of the county. If the unemployment rate remains for the next year, Benzie County families would receive (33,675 X 52) $1,751,100.00 from the stimulus. Note: In 2006, the Benzie County per capita annual income was $27,637; total annual income in the county was approximately 487 million dollars. (Note: unemployment benefit information was provided by the Second District Democratic Party.)

The nationwide economic downtown, which is showing signs of slowing and turning around, continues to affect Benzie County. We urge all our members to do what they can to assist their friends and neighbors and the agencies and community groups that serve them. Blue Tigers, the group within our party concerned with community service, continues to organize people to help out. Three food drives were conducted in 2009 for a local food bank, BACN. Blue Tigers supported the Thompsonville Summer Fest in June and a children's holiday party.