State Budget Reforms

The Governor and Michigan Legislature have taken Michigan in a positive direction.  We currently have a rainy day fund (projected) of $611 million by the end of 2016.  We support the positive direction the governor and legislature have taken Michigan and want to see continued diligence in lowering the unfunded liabilities we currently face with municipal government employees.

• We support the governor’s recommendation of modest increases in some budgets due to cost increases; however, we also support a top down evaluation of all state programs to identify waste, outdated and ineffective programs.
  
• We support a full review of smart and safe parole reform and believe more can be done in the areas under the Department of Corrections.  This proposal will help reduce costs and allow Michigan to invest in infrastructure, jobs and education – all of which help to make our communities safer.
  
• We support measures to dramatically improve the fair administration of taxes and seek measures to hold the state accountable for failing to adhere to its own rules and court decisions.  
• We support efforts to expand personal property tax relief to all job providers.
  
• We oppose expansion of sales, use, excise or other transactional taxes to goods and services.
• We support further reform to Unclaimed Property laws to simplify compliance and protect holder’s rights.  
• We oppose efforts to impose a graduated income tax on Michigan families, entrepreneurs and business taxpayers.
  
• We oppose any effort to move the tax collection responsibility from municipalities to business/employers.        

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Questions about policy statementments can be directed to Veronica Horn at 989-757-2113.