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Bath Twp. trustee candidates address late taxes

Beth LeBlanc
Lansing State Journal

UPDATE: This story has been updated with a correction. Unpaid taxes on a property listed under Eric Schlenkermann's name in Clinton County records were the responsibility of the property's previous owners, who paid off the delinquent taxes when they sold the home to Schlenkermann in March. 

BATH TWP. - A candidate for Bath Township trustee nearly six months behind in his taxes plans to pay off his debt in the next week.

Bath welcome sign

Will Tyler White owes $1,256.75 in delinquent taxes, according to Clinton County property records. His payment was due Feb. 14.

White, a Democrat, said his delinquent taxes this year — and late payments in 2014 and 2012 — are the result of a poor economy. He said his failure to pay his taxes is not reflective of his ability as a trustee.

“My personal finances have nothing to do with the township,” White said. “The county actually gets a little extra money because of the interest and late fees.

“One of the reasons I want to be a trustee is to see if we can lower the tax burden on people.”

Online property records for the candidates for Bath Township trustee, supervisor, clerk and treasurer show two other candidates for trustee — Cindy Cronk and Allen Rosekrans — made late tax payments this year.

According to county records, Cronk, an incumbent Democrat, paid $2,123.50 in property taxes on July 13, nearly five months after they were due.

In the last five years, Cronk also was late in paying her 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 taxes, according to county records.

“Economic conditions caused a great hardship for many Michigan residents and myself — being a realtor and small business owner — I was hit hard,” Cronk said.

“During these times, I worked three jobs to keep my home and to get caught up on property tax obligations.”

County records indicate a property owned by Eric Schlenkermann was about a month behind in taxes this year.

However, Schlenkermann said those late payments were the responsibility of the property's previous owners, who paid off the delinquent taxes when they sold the home to Schlenkermann in March. ​

A parcel listed under Democratic candidate Allen Rosekrans shows that he paid about $1,416 in late property taxes Thursday. The property record also indicated a late payment in 2012.

"With such poor economic conditions, the person to whom I sold and cosigned for a home had a hard time staying current on his property taxes.  However, that tax obligation is now current," Rosekrans said in an emailed statement.

"With township spending beyond their income, I can assume taxes will increase in Bath.  This is one of the reason's I'm running for trustee -- to keep spending and taxes under control."

Online property records for the other candidates for Bath Township elected positions indicate no other late or delinquent payments in the past five years. Eight Democrats and four Republicans are running for four open trustee seats this year.

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (517) 377-1167, eleblanc@gannett.com, or on Twitter @LSJBethLeBlanc.