There will be
many issues that various groups will be attempting to place on the November
2012 ballot. The Wayne County Taxpayers
Association has chosen to actively support two of them. Once again I am asking
for your help. We hope that you will help us collect signatures for these
proposals to insure that they make it to the ballot.
In 1978 the
voters amended Article 9, Section 6, of the State
Constitution, and made additions to Article 9, Sections 25 thru 34, to provide
for Tax Limitation.” This is most commonly known as the Headlee Amendment.
The
people thought by voting for this that there would be no unauthorized tax increases without a vote of the people. However, over
the years they have been proven wrong. Taxpayers, including myself, have been to
court numerous times and the outcomes have been inconsistent. Government and
the courts seem to have found a way to get around the constitution to the
disadvantage of the taxpayer.
We are hoping the proposal on the petition we are circulating in
conjunction with the “Michigan Alliance for Prosperity” will finally stop them
at the state level. The petition language reads as follows:
“A
proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution by adding a Section 26a to Article Nine. No new or additional taxes shall be imposed by the state government, nor shall it expand the base of taxation, nor shall it
increase the rate of taxation unless: (a) by the vote of two-thirds of
all the elected member of each
branch of the Legislature or (b)
by a statewide vote of Michigan electors at a November
election. This section shall in no way be construed to limit or modify tax limitations otherwise created in this constitution.”
We hope that this will stop the
shell game of different taxes at the state levels while still constraining
increases within the established limits. This shell game has significant effect
and consequences for both business and individual taxpayers. Once a tax has
been reduced or eliminated it will no longer be an easy task to create a new
one to replace it by a simple majority.
We know that similar provisions in
13 other states have proven successful and that precedent has been established
in the Michigan Constitution. Two examples are:
- 1. A 2/3 legislative majority was required to assume new debt to pay off debt owed by the Mackinac Bridge Authority.
- 2. A ¾ majority is required to raise the education tax
The second proposal is concerning the building and maintaining of
any additional international crossings.
The proposal reads as follows:
“The People
should decide whether state government may construct or finance new
international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles. Consistent with this
policy and to shield the people from unnecessary burdens, the state shall not
undertake ownership and the development or use of state funds or resources for
new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles unless first determined
to be necessary and appropriate by majority vote of the people.”
They have indicated that the
funding for the project will be paid by the tolls generated. There is no
guarantee that the taxpayer will not have to pick up any shortfall for the
construction and operation of the bridge proposed by Governor Snyder. The objection of the legislature and the
majority of the people seemed to have little effect on his decision to proceed.
Reduction in crossings and state population, in our estimation, insures the taxpayer will be responsible for
the shortfall in revenue. If we are
going to have to pay for it, we should at least have a say in whether it should
be built. That goes for any other construction of that magnitude for those
purposes.
Placing decisions for such massive projects
on the ballot would result in a discussion of both the merits and liabilities of
the issue before we commit taxpayer resources.
Please get involved. Contact me and I will see that you are
contacted by the appropriate people and are sent the petitions you need. Please
don’t think that someone else will do it.
We need your help. Lansing has gotten out of control.
Rose Bogaert, Chair
Wayne County Taxpayers
Association, Inc
313-278-8383
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