The statewide ballot will contain five proposals that Michigan residents must decide on November 7. Several of them will affect the heavy construction industry in Michigan.
Of greatest concern to our industry is Proposal 5–the K-16 initiative . A seemingly innocuous proposal to guarantee modest inflationary increases to education could have a devastating impact on the state budget. The proposal is now estimated to cost over $700 million to the state budget in the first year alone, with the state also picking up the future tab for increased costs in the teacher pension program. No additional dollars are guaranteed to directly benefit students.
These state budget strains are of serious concern to MITA because of likely cuts to revenue sharing dollars for local units of governments. These dollars are what locals use to pay for infrastructure projects. Proposal 5 would not only require sizeable cuts in important local services next year, but the financial problems remain indefinitely. MITA encourages you and your employees to vote “no” on Proposal 5.
Proposal 2 would have a direct impact on state MBE programs. The proposal would ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment for public employment, education or contracting purposes.
Another proposal would restrict the state from taking private property by eminent domain for private development purposes. Proposal 4 would also allow a property owner to be compensated at 125% of the property’s fair market value.
More in-depth analyses of all the proposals have been posted on the MITA web site for your convenience.
Click here for Proposal 1 Analysis (Conservation and Recreation Funds)
Click here for Proposal 2 Analysis (Affirmative Action)
Click here for Proposal 3 Analysis (Dove Hunting)
Click here for Proposal 4 Analysis (Eminent Domain)
Click here for Proposal 5 Analysis (K-16)
If you have any questions, please contact Mike Nystrom, Vice President of Government and Public Relations at mikenystrom@mi-ita.com; or Keith Ledbetter, Director of Legislative Affairs at keithledbetter@mi-ita.com; or by calling the MITA office at (517) 347-8336.
