11/04/2006

Farmland measure foes are outspent

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

LELAND — Supporters of a proposed farmland preservation tax in Leelanau County outspent the opposition group by more than $39,000 in their campaign to sway voters.

Save Leelanau Farmland formed in March to support the request for 0.5-mills for the next 15 years to fund the county's farmland preservation program. The proposed millage equals 50 cents per $1,000 of taxable value.

The pro-millage committee spent $41,083 of the $51,252 it raised in direct contributions and also netted in-kind contributions totaling $31,655 as of Oct. 22, pre-election campaign finance records show.

The group's expenses included $3,963 for advertising, $8,899 for consulting services, $1,450 for its Web site, and $4,180 for campaign signs.

The largest donor was Edward Collins, of Leland, the group's treasurer and a founding member of the Leelanau Conservancy. He chipped in a total of $10,015 in direct contributions and $5,554 worth of in-kind donations for items like printing, postage and advertising.

Save Leelanau Farmland president George Wellman gave $5,000 in direct contributions and another $2,081 for in-kind items.

The Michigan Land Use Institute made in-kind donations totaling $12,797 for photography, DVD production, advertising and professional services. The Leelanau Conservancy provided $3,515 worth of in-kind services.

Leelanau Taxpayers United, the citizens group formed to oppose the farmland preservation tax, raised $3,564 in contributions from 28 sources since June 1 and spent a total of $1,589.

The opposition group spent $1,295 on campaign signs, $254 on brochures and the remainder on voter lists.

The largest donation to Leelanau Taxpayers United came from Glen and Ella Noonan, of Maple City, who contributed $500. Glen Noonan is a retired farmer and chairman of the county road commission.

The next largest donation was $400 from Robert and Joan Hawley, of Empire. Robert Hawley is chairman of the Leelanau County board.

of Commissioners. Contributions of $250 each came from former county commissioners Richard Schmuckal and Bernard Glettler and Alan Martel, a farmer from Kewadin.

Reports detailing spending through the post-election period are due Dec. 7.