Local Franchise Fee

[scott]

Hi Friends,

I live in Michigan and I am a current cable subscriber with Buckeye Cable. I noticed on my cable bill that I am being charged a 4% franchise fee.

I started doing some research and found out that our local government, Bedford Township, Michigan is actually receiving this fee.
Last year they collected over $190,000 from local cable subscribers but only spent about $30,000 in cable related expenses.
The balace of the money has been going to the general fund.
From what I have been told they can spend the balance of this money ($160,00) on whatever they would like.
I feel that this is an unfair tax on the subscribers. From what I can understand, they can use this money for whatever they wish.

I am all for the new township hall but feel that all the taxpayers in the township should pay for it, not just the cable subscribers.

I and other cable subscribers reqest that the township lower our cable franchise fee to just cover the cost of cable related expenses.
Thanks...