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Tax Climate

Violate Michigan’s Constitutional Restrictions on Local Taxes Funding School Operations

Staff Contact

Leah Robinson

Director of Legislative Affairs

(517) 371-7669 | lrobinson@michamber.com

Summary of Bill & What It Means to You

SB 20 (Zorn):  The legislation would expand the allowable use of “Sinking Funds” to be used for the purchase of school busses.  Sinking Funds are a special pots of resources a school district can request from taxpayers to use for very limited, capital improvements to real property.  Sinking funds are funded by local property tax millages.

Chamber Position

OPPOSE:   The Michigan Constitution is clear that all school operating expenses must be covered by state taxes distributed to local districts not by locally approved property tax millages.  This was a change made under Proposal A adopted by voters in 1994 to help stop property taxes from increasing at an out of control pace.  By allowing sinking funds to cover school bus purchases the principal of disallowing local millages to cover school operating expenses would be violated.  What’s next? Covers employee salary and benefits from sinking funds?  This type of mission creep would eventually put Michigan on a course backwards when property taxes were rising at untenable rates.

Bill Sponsors

This bill is a Job Killer

Primary Sponsor: State Senator Dale W. Zorn, District 17

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Violate Michigan’s Constitutional Restrictions on Local Taxes Funding School Operations

SB 20 (Zorn):  The legislation would expand the allowable use of “Sinking Funds” to be used for the purchase of school busses.  Sinking Funds are a special pots of resources a school district can request from taxpayers to use for very limited, capital improvements to real property.  Sinking funds are funded by local property tax millages.