Contest Winner: Reader raises awareness of school bill

The Oakland Press, March 29, 2009

Proposed school bill should never pass

I subscribe to the "Michigan Capitol Confidential," published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

In the latest issue, an article titled "Sneak Attack" made me aware of Michigan House Bill 4141, which was submitted by the last lame duck session of the Michigan House of Representatives, under the radar and with little debate.

This bill provides Michigan school districts the ability to bypass some of the limitations of Proposal A passed in 1994. In summary: HB 4141 changes the rules with which school districts can use sinking funds, using these funds in much the same manner as bond issues.

According to the article, this bill "would create a whole new 5-mill property tax opportunity" and an estimated $3.2 billion to $7.2 billion in additional tax revenues.

Leave it to the Michigan Legislature to once again stick it to the already overburdened taxpayer.

I encourage Michigan residents to contact their state legislators and ask them to reject this bill when it comes before them.

—Joe Vlk, Oxford

Mr. Vlk is a winner of the Michigan Capitol Confidential letter contest and will receive the framed original of the Henry Payne cartoon from the front page of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue. Readers who mention "Michigan Capitol Confidential" when writing to lawmakers or newspapers are encouraged to submit their entries to:

Michigan Capitol Confidential
c/o Contest
140 West Main Street
Midland, MI 48640