Township employees want to keep their jobs. There’s no big surprise there. But the fact that township employees would willingly and knowingly break the law (they have to understand that, don’t they?) to accomplish that goal is not only ironic, but somewhat tragic.

MySmartgov.org writes about the t-shirts, signs and letters (all generated on the public’s time and/or dime) that are bad enough. The "special dues assessment," however, is basically picking the pockets of taxpayers to run a political campaign. Those taxpayers can make their own choices. They don’t need their money used to save the "level of government closest to the taxpayers" when two-thirds of those taxpayers don’t know who their township officials are and have never used their services.

The November 4 referendum question in 43 townships states: Should the assessing duties of the elected township assessor in this township be transferred to the county assessor? MySmartgov.org wants you to look at the facts and make up your own mind. That only seems fair.