THE BASICS: The Center for Michigan tax and budget guide arms any citizen with the basic information they need to understand how Michigan’s public purse works.
THE OVERVIEW: The full presenation from the day’s events, including vote totals from several audience polls on taxing and spending.
MSU ECONOMIST CHARLES BALLARD: Makes the case for expansion of the sales tax and a graduated income tax.
SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN’S ROB FOWLER: Argues the future of economic development is in small-employer entrepreneurialism and “economic gardening,” not “economic hunting” for the next mega factory.
MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE’S DAN GILMARTIN: Outlines how local governments suffer from a double whammy of revenue cuts and increased health care/benefits costs.
MICHIGAN LEAGUE FOR HUMAN SERVICES’ SHARON PARKS: Explains shifting priorities in Michigan’s general fund budget and shows how the wages of many Michigan breadwinners are below the poverty line.
MICHIGAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION’S DOUG PRATT: Questions economic development incentives and states the case for education investment.
BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN’S DOUG ROTHWELL: Outlines a decade of job loss, questions current state spending priorities, and offers a detailed reform plan.
MICHIGAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S RICHARD STUDLEY: Compares MEGA tax breaks to private sector job trends and questions whether such incentives are working.
One Comment
Reviewing BASICS, I complain that the business taxes are not broken out and grouped to show the total business tax picture. Business taxes give the MBT combined with other specialized taxes. Business property taxes are not separated out to real property and business personal property, sales and use taxes, SET, and business insurance proceeds tax. Business taxes are always grouped so that we cannot get a clear picture.
Under Fair Tax, these five taxes (not sure about including real property) are targeted for elimination.
OK, so it is clear that the state of Michigan must make some cuts or lots of cuts with the next budget. Beyond that, what is the most important piece of legislation needed to end the recession, to get 100-1000 businesses to come to Michigan? Consider that, it is beyond the ability of the state to give tax abatements or Renaissance Zone accommodations for all these businesses, that suddenly might want to come to Michigan. But, Michigan must legislate to give these businesses a reason.