(Originally published Jan. 19, 2011) In the Milan School District, students spend more days in class than their peers in most other districts for a simple reason: district leaders have made it an important priority. In the 2008-2009 school year, Milan was one of a handful of districts that actually exceeded – by a single […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge” — British author and mathematician Bertrand Russell. * Muskegon County looks for cuts in spending. “The proposed budget anticipates $42.9 million in revenues for 2012, the lowest in at least six years and $1.3 million less than the current projection for 2011.”: http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2011/08/muskegon_county_proposes_healt.html * In […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Income is small share of business taxes
Emerging from a long debate over the second major revision of the state’s business income tax in a decade, Michigan residents, and maybe some policy-makers, may be surprised by the results of the Council on State Taxation’s annual report on business taxes. Gov. Rick Snyder and allies in the Legislature and business community argued consistently […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Tax breaks saved mental hospital site, developer says
“Blight” and “Traverse City” aren’t often used in the same sentence. But one large, historically significant property in the picturesque northern Michigan community was so blighted that local officials who wanted to redevelop the site were unable to make much progress — until it was approved as a tax-free Renaissance Zone. The Traverse City Regional […]
Posted inLand O Links
Land O Links
“It is no good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge” — atomic physicist Enrico Fermi. * Our friend Kurt Metzger takes the positive approach to home values in Detroit — there are bargains aplenty for buyers: http://detroitdataguru.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/metro-detroit-real-estate-great-deals-in-a-great-area/ * Another survey in Michigan, this of the general public, […]
Posted inMichigan Government
MSU dominates U-M in Legislature
The Michigan Legislature has voted over the years to designate a state rock (Petosky stone), a state tree (white pine) and even a state fossil (mastodon). If lawmakers decide to name a state university, Wolverine fans should be worried. There are almost twice as many Michigan State University alumni in the House and Senate than […]
Posted inSuccess
Staying connected way up north
(Originally published March 30, 2011) When President Obama decided to stump for his plan to make high-speed wireless services in reach of virtually every American within five years, he flew to a city whose Internet access is a model for the country. It has helped students, improved government services and contributed to growth in private […]
Posted inQuality of Life
Any idiot can lower price. Isn’t Michigan worth more?
(Originally published April 20, 2011) Michigan has the best fly fishing in the country! That’s what Field & Stream magazine declared earlier this month as anglers across the Midwest prepped for their annual pilgrimages up north for the opening of Michigan’s fly-fishing season, which is April 30 this year. Here’s what Field & Stream said […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Statewide voters overwhelmingly pass tax levies
(Originally published Aug. 12, 2010) Faced with choices between fixing roads or paying less in taxes, Michigan voters overwhelmingly opted for smoother streets in the Aug. 3, 2010, election. They also opened their wallets for fire and police departments, for senior citizens and libraries. Across the state, voters approved 86 percent of the 623 ballot proposals […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Jobs available, skills are not
(Originally published April 14, 2011) Like plenty of Michigan companies, Cignys, Inc. was forced to lay off workers as the state’s economy tanked during the Great Recession. The Saginaw-based supplier of precision-machined products to the aerospace, defense and plastics industries is hiring again, though, as manufacturing enjoys a surprisingly strong rebound. But there’s just one […]