I am not one to promulgate the generous offering of tax breaks and abatements -- but perhaps the City Commission should explore these few ideas:

1. Since there is a plethora of foreclosures, think of an innovative plan to offer property tax abatements for new home buyers of Bay City foreclosed properties. Perhaps, a 3 year sliding scale would be in order -- or, whatever plan could be worked out so as to not overly offend the "steady eddie" long term homeowners who have faithfully paid their property taxes throughout the years.

The more property tax revenue that can be expunged from idle properties, the more present homeowners will benefit -- providing city politicians are good and honest stewards of the tax revenues.

2. Bay City need target the new power plant employees to market Bay City's available housing. A simple brochure that highlights Bay City's many available businesses in such a small area can be trumpeted as well as the short distance contracted union employees would have to travel back and forth to work.

3. The same idea as expressed in #2 could be "employed" for near businesses, such as the large Hemlock Semi Conductor enterprise and its future expansion (s).

These ideas need not require the hiring of a new position at City Hall, but could be incorporated with existing positions, such as the Asst. City Mgr.

Bay City politicians need to think and act wisely on the weary taxpayer's dime. Our city need not continue to make it more difficult on the city residents whose living standards are continuing to take a beating from not only this area's stressed economy, but also that of the federal's and state's poor economy.

Standish just recieved over 1 million from the casino. Too bad the casino was not good enough for Bay City's leaders. Bay City could have used extra money and also could have used help with the police and fire department. Try to imagine all the boat traffic pullng into the casino docks to spend money on gambling, food and, shopping. Its a damn shame. Meanwhile it still sits as a rundown eyesore. When will something be good enough? The city needed a casino for the jobs. Jobs=tax revenue. Baseball was not good enough either! Leadership fails this city every time. leadership will still continue to wonder why the population of bay County keeps dropping. Wake Up!!