Macomb County Commissioner Bob Smith put out a piece of literature on Monday that declares "politics as usual is over" -- then proceeds to practice the same old politics of deception.
Smith, a Clinton Township Democrat, vows in this flyer that he will "continue to cut taxes." Well, the county Board of Commissioners has not cut taxes during Smith's 4-year tenure and is not likely to chop the county millage rate at any time in the near future. In fact, the board has not reduced the millage rate for decades, if ever.
The only tax reductions in this county have come due to the sharp drop in property values caused by the housing market bust and the wave of foreclosures. Maybe the commissioner wants to take credit for that mess.
Second, Smith takes credit for the budget cuts that brought county finances back in line over the past three years. In fact, the literature says he was "instrumental" in substantially increasing the county's "rainy day" fund.
Of course, this dishonest claim completely obscures the fact that the budget is largely the product of the County Executive's Office. In some years, the board has done little more than nibble around the edges of the proposed budget presented by County Executive Mark Hackel. And, to be fair, the credit for getting the budget under control mostly goes to former finance director Pete Provenzano.
One more thing: I don't know who wrote and reviewed this piece of direct-mail advertising, but I sure hope it wasn't Smith. The most prominent feature on the flyer, in large type, says that the incumbent was elected in 2011. Uh, no. He was elected in 2010.
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