During a recent government meeting, residents of Lansing voiced their concerns regarding a proposed tax increase by Eaton County and the ongoing discussions about the city's charter.

Linda Abling, a Lansing resident, expressed strong opposition to the county's plan to raise property taxes by 3%, which would result in an overall 8% tax burden for residents. Abling argued that the increase is unjust, as she believes residents are already paying for essential services, such as those provided by the sheriff's office and public transportation, through city taxes. She emphasized that the proposed tax hike would effectively mean double taxation for Lansing residents, as they would be funding services they already receive from the city without any financial return from the county.

Following Abling, Nicholas Zandy shared his disappointment with the current direction of the Charter Commission. He noted that the commission appears to be maintaining the existing strong mayor system without making significant changes to the city charter. Zandy advocated for an increase in the number of wards, citing examples from other cities where such changes have improved representation for low-income families and minority communities. He expressed skepticism about the commission's commitment to this goal and indicated that if the charter proposal fails to address these issues, he may pursue a separate ballot initiative to restructure the city's ward system.

The discussions highlight ongoing tensions between local governance and community representation, as residents seek to ensure their voices are heard in both taxation and political representation.