My letter to editor published July 27

 Michigan taxes are not the highest

Editor,

In response to the July 26 letter to the editor from Carla Johnson (“Farmers can’t afford more taxes”), first may I say that I sympathize with the challenges that family farms face in the 21st century. Also, I am most appreciative of the fresh produce that farmers provide for local grocery stores. Truly, one of the summer’s and fall’s pleasures in Berrien County is visiting a favorite fruit or vegetable stand for fresh asparagus, tomato, pumpkins, etc.

That being said, I support the Aug. 8 Lake Michigan College millage renewal. LMC plays an important role in our community for training and re-training of employees and a less expensive education for those students wishing to advance to the university level.

In addition, I would like to clarify some of the facts that are in Ms. Johnson’s letter. She states: “We cannot continue to pay the highest taxes in the nation.” I cannot speak to Ms. Johnson’s individual income or tax situation. Again, I sympathize with her financial challenges. Still, according to the conservative Tax Foundation which bills itself as an “independent tax policy nonprofit,” the claim that Michigan has the highest taxes in the nation is simply not true. Per the Tax Foundation, Michigan has the lowest state and local taxes of all the Great Lakes States. Indeed, the Tax Foundation reports that Michigan has the fifth lowest state and local taxes in the nation. Only Alaska, Wyoming, Tennessee and South Dakota have lower state and local taxes.

If you are interested in these facts, the Tax Foundations report can be found at the following website: taxfoundation. org/publications/state-local-tax -burden-rankings/ Hopefully, Ms. Johnson is fully taking advantage of Michigan’s homestead property tax credit which will return up to $1,600 of property tax to her family in 2023. I wish her nothing but the best and thank her and all family farms for the bounty they bring to Berrien County.

I vote “yes” to support Lake Michigan College’s millage renewal.

Robert Burgess Stevensville