Michigan won’t be reinvented in a day. Or a dog year. But as Gov. Rick Snyder concludes his first (human) year in office, the general course he defined as a candidate is coming into view as legislative markers are set. Eight years of partisan division and economic decline prompted public interest groups such as The […]
Snyder gets his changes; consequences unclear
Posted inMichigan Government
Analysis: Michigan makes huge strides in 2011
By Phil Power/Center for Michigan and Doug Rothwell/Business Leaders for Michigan Michigan has much to be thankful for as this year comes to a close: Better managed state and local government, a brighter economic outlook and more efficient delivery of public services. Our state’s turnaround has begun, but in many ways the hardest work still lies […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Center for Michigan launches education talks
Starting Tuesday, the Center for Michigan — parent to Bridge Magazine — is launching its next round of community conversations across Michigan. This year-long campaign, through the end of 2012, will focus on a singular topic of extreme importance to Michigan’s future: K-12 education. These town hall-style meetings are modeled after the Center’s “Michigan’s Defining […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Nelson invigorated by challenge of DHS caseloads
Cindy Nelson doesn’t take work home with her in the traditional sense, but it doesn’t mean that work — and the people and their tear-jerking stories that comprise it — just sits at the office waiting for her to return at 8 a.m. Even though she has been promoted from off the front line and into a […]
Posted inTalent & Education
Does education reform begin with teachers or parents?
Everyone wants to fix our schools. There’s only one problem: No one knows what works. A compilation of education research by the Education Writers Association comes to the conclusion that there really aren’t any solid conclusions about education reform. Teacher quality has been the political flavor this year in Michigan, with legislation aimed at weeding […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
'Shadow Tax Cut' deepens local budget crises
A $900 million cut in property tax revenues since 2007, the “Shadow Tax Cut,” has devastated the budgets of local governments that heavily rely on these taxes to provide police and fire protection — and a host of other services. They’ve laid off hundreds of firefighters, police officers and other employees; cut pay and benefits; […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Smaller communities buck tax loss trend
Dozens of cities, villages and townships — most of them small in population — have seen tax revenues actually rise over the past three years despite an overall revenue decline inMichigan. Those increases mainly have been a result of one or two new commercial projects that have sharply boosted property values in local taxing jurisdictions. […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
What was Shadow Tax Cut in your town?
In 2007, $14.25 billion in property taxes were collected by local governments in Michigan. By 2010, that figure had fallen to $13.37 billion. Adjusted for inflation, the drop exceeded $1.6 billion in only four years. This “Shadow Tax Cut” has had significant effects on local governments and on Michiganians’ tax bills, but the effects have […]
Posted inTalent & Education
School or lunch counter?
This handy map at the New York Times shows the percentage of schoolchildren eligible for free or reduced-price lunches at school by state in 2011. In Michigan, almost half the children are eligible — 45 percent. And, sadly, that’s a good figure, by national standards. Twenty-two states have a majority of schoolchildren qualified. In parts […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Longer ballot means less power for voters
Gov. Rick Snyder signed bills today to require that local school board elections be held in the November general election of even-numbered years. This long sought change to the school election calendar will, advocates say, save cash-strapped local districts at least $8 million over a two-year election cycle. Saving money for schools = good. It […]
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