PAAdvisory Briefs

Many School Bond Proposals Pass

Michigan schools districts voted to raise property taxes to pay for bond sales to fund improvements to school buildings on Tuesday. All but five of the 42 bond proposals passed. Substantial bonds include Warren Consolidated School District at $134.53 million, Lansing Public Schools with $120 million, Romeo Community Schools with $86 million, Sparta Area Schools with $58.62 million and Comstock Public Schools at $40.13 million. Albion schools voted to annex Marshall into their district as well.

Michigan Tax Burden Below Average

Michigan has ranked in the lower tier of all states in per capita tax burden according to a report from the Citizen Research Council. Michigan came in lowest among the Great Lakes states. Property taxes ranked 26^th in per capital total burden and 35^th in total state and local tax burden in the country. Property taxes by 2013 were just over 31 percent in its total tax burden, compared to 41 percent in 1993. Sales tax revenues increased to 34.1 percent of the burden. Corporate income taxes went from 5^th highest in 1993 to 39^th highest in 2013.

Unemployment Insurance Agency Testifies Before Committee

Officials from the Unemployment Insurance Agency testified before the first House Oversight and Ethics; Unemployment Reform subcommittee hearing to defend the program’s operations in its fraud detection program. Since 2013 the program has received two audits and major litigation claiming serious problems in the administration of the program. Subcommittee chairman Representative Joseph Graves (R-Linden) said the panel will hear from claimants and employers before reporting anything to the full House Oversight and Ethics Committee by May 25.

Senate Approves Flint Supplemental

On Wednesday the Senate approved a $127.99 million supplemental appropriation to provide a variety of health, infrastructure, and educational services to the city of Flint. A majority portion of the funds will go to the emergency reserve city fund. $25 million will cover water infrastructure and water filters for the city. The bill was approved 34-3.

Snyder Booed at Public Speech

Governor Rick Snyder addressed a crowd of nearly 1,000 at Northwestern Preparatory School on Wednesday. The Governor spoke before President Obama gave a speech to the crowd. In his speech, Governor Snyder reiterated how to government failed the city of Flint, which was greeted with a chorus of boos. This marks the first time the Governor has directly addressed the citizens of Flint, on the water crisis.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, May 6, 2016 10:45 AM
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