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Some state leaders are floating a revision to the 1994 Michigan constitutional amendment capping property taxes. The outcome could impact Michigan’s national competitiveness, and the long-term health of its struggling cities.
The $20 million competition Gov. Rick Snyder proposed in his 2018 budget recommendation is modeled after a similar program in 2015 for community colleges that his administration said led to 91 new or expanded career-tech programs at 18 schools.
Billionaire developer Dan Gilbert of Detroit will stay in the background this week as supporters of bills to create a tax incentive for “transformational” brownfield projects will put the spotlight on the rest of the state. They plan to focus less on Detroit projects, in part to sell outstate legislators and their constituents on the opportunity the incentive would create in their own backyards.
The intent is not to force employers to participate in a program they can’t sustain, but to reward employers who aim to offer long-term work to parolees.
Employers who have taken the criminal-history checkbox off job applications say they still check backgrounds, but leave the discussion about an applicant’s record until later in the process. Will others follow?
In a Q-and-A with Bridge, Michigan governor said he is growing more comfortable with business incentive legislation that likely will be reintroduced this session.
Stymied in lame-duck session, developers and economic development leaders across Michigan say they will lobby Lansing next year for nearly $300 million in new business tax incentives.
In a state where new taxes are often a non-starter, the idea of raising more money for roads, bridges and drinking water lines has been a hard sell. Yet Michigan may have no choice.
Efforts in Lansing to lower unfunded liabilities by converting pensions into 401(k)-like accounts for teachers and capping public employees’ retirement healthcare benefits will likely be renewed in January.
A governor-appointed commission says state must spend $4 billion more annually to update roads, bridges, energy and water systems. Michigan spends a smaller portion on infrastructure than the U.S. average.
Supporters of the bills, including GOP legislators and some municipalities, say generous benefits were promised decades ago in different economic times and are now unsustainable. Teachers and city workers say they’ve sacrificed enough.
Some large industrial companies and school districts saying the current legislation would force less expensive alternative electric suppliers out of business.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised sweeping changes in trade policy, environmental regulations and Obamacare on the campaign trail. Here’s how these issues critical to Michigan are likely to play out, according to business and political leaders.
Legislation to create a statewide licensing system for the ride-hailing companies, which let customers summon rides through smartphone apps, has the airports fighting back to protect other revenue streams
Michigan faces huge funding decisions on roads and water infrastructure as well as energy policy. In a state dominated by Republican leadership, will Democratic gains in the House on Nov. 8 change the legislative calculus?
Though advocates of a plan to capture Michigan sales and income taxes to offset the costs of large development projects contend the state wouldn’t award a project that didn’t yield more revenue than it gives away, criticism remains that bill is a giveaway to developers.
