I thought there was going to be a problem here...
LANSING, Mich. -- Two measures likely to appear before voters on the November ballot may be headed for a collision.
One restricts state spending. The other requires more state money for schools.
The conflict became more apparent Wednesday when the state elections board listened to a debate over the proposed wording for the ballot issues _ and their potential costs.
One proposal would automatically give school districts, universities and community colleges enough money each year to at least cover inflation. Another would limit overall state spending to a combination of inflation plus population growth.
The two are in "direct conflict" with each other, said Rich Studley of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, which opposes both measures. He noted the spending limitation measure could give money back to taxpayers at the same time more dollars would be required for schools.
The backers of both proposals don't want the costs revealed. Wonder why that is.
Opponents of the education proposal told the Board of State Canvassers that the ballot language should tell voters that an extra $700 million in state dollars would be needed in the first year to fund the measure, including $380 million if employee retirement costs for local schools are shifted to the state.
But backers urged election officials to draft wording that doesn't include estimates of the fiscal impact, whose accuracy they questioned. The nonpartisan House and Senate fiscal agencies have given different estimates of how much the education proposal would cost.
And for the SOS...
Those who oppose a proposal that would limit the growth of state spending also stressed its potential price tag, and the impact it could have on local governments by requiring voters to approve more aspects of local budgets.
A Senate Fiscal Agency analysis of the Stop Overspending proposal says its effect on future state budgets is unknown.
If it is "unknown", then wouldn't it fall under the category of "perhaps this is a Really Bad Idea"?
Here's a question- SOS passes. The SBT is eliminated. Would any replacement revenue fall under the SOS provisions? Or doesn't that count as "growth"?
See, this is why I take pictures of frogs and stuff...
Thinking about all this shit just hurts my head. I sure hope this doesn't pass- seems this is the first year in awhile that we didn't have some big throw-down over the budget. I can't imagine the mess that this would create.