Hopefully by now you understand the many problems that surround Proposal 5, the education spending proposal that will be on the November ballot. In case you have not heard, the plan would give automatic inflationary funding increases each year to all public schools, community colleges and universities. While this may sound like a good idea, these increases would cost the state’s general fund almost $600 million annually above what education already receives. If approved, Proposal 5 will cost local governments revenue sharing dollars that help fund police, fire, EMS and other essential services.

Proposal 5 is not about education quality. It makes no mention of improved test scores, student achievement or lower tuition. Plus, over two thirds of the K-16 spending increase under Proposal 5 is already designated, but not for the classroom. Proposal 5 funding will go towards skyrocketing teachers’ pensions. Nothing in the plan sends money to the classrooms.

There are four other ballot proposals facing voters that MTA is less involved in that you may want to learn more about before the election. They are:

• Proposal 1: A constitutional amendment to require that money held in conservation and recreation funds can only be used for their intended purposes.


• Proposal 2: A constitutional amendment to ban affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes.


• Proposal 3: A referendum on Public Act 160 of 2004 – An act that created a limited hunting season for mourning doves.


• Proposal 4: A constitutional amendment to prohibit government from using eminent domain for taking private property for other private economic development purposes.

To review the 100 word summaries for each ballot proposal, visit the Secretary of State website at www.michigan.gov/sos..