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Proposal One To Be Decided By Voters Tuesday

Wikipedia

Today is the last full day of campaigning before primary elections Tuesday. Voters will choose Republican and Democratic nominees for the November ballot. And, as we hear from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta, there is one statewide ballot question.   

Proposal One asks voters to ratify a plan by the Legislature to eliminate a tax on business equipment - the personal property tax -- and replace the lost revenue to local governments. 
Business groups have put millions of dollars into the campaign to support Proposal One, even though it has no organized opposition. Many local leaders support it. But Warren Mayor Jim Fouts is opposed. 
"When the Democrats and Republicans and everybody are all together on one thing - Harry Truman said, 'Hold on to your wallet.'" 

Fouts appeared over the weekend on the Michigan Public Television program, "Off the Record."
Leaders in the Legislature say they'll probably come up with an alternate plan to get rid of the hugely unpopular personal property tax if Proposal One is defeated.

The Proposal, as it will appear on ballot Tuesday, reads:

“APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF AMENDATORY ACT TO REDUCE STATE USE TAX AND REPLACE

WITH A LOCAL COMMUNITY STABILIZATION SHARE TO MODERNIZE THE TAX SYSTEM TO HELP

SMALL BUSINESSES GROW AND CREATE JOBS

The amendatory act adopted by the Legislature would:

1. Reduce the state use tax and replace with a local community stabilization share of the tax for the purpose of  modernizing the tax system to help small businesses grow and create jobs in Michigan.

2. Require Local Community Stabilization Authority to provide revenue to local governments dedicated for local purposes, including police safety, fire protection, and ambulance emergency services.

3. Increase portion of state use tax dedicated for aid to local school districts.

4. Prohibit Authority from increasing taxes.

5. Prohibit total use tax rate from exceeding existing constitutional 6% limitation.

Should this law be approved?”

YES [ ]

NO [ ]”   

Rick Pluta is the managing editor for the Michigan Public Radio Network.