ENDORSEMENTS: 2012 Michigan Ballot Proposals and Candidates - 10-2012

Saginaw, Michigan – The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors have approved and announced endorsement positions for the upcoming November 6, 2012 elections.

 

The Chamber recommends the following actions on statewide ballot issues 12-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and the renewal of the eight year millage request for Delta College.

 

Ballot Proposal                                                                                 Chamber Endorses

12-1   Emergency Manager PA 4 Referendum....................................... Vote YES

 

12-2   Amend the Constitution:

            Regarding Collective Bargaining................................................... Vote NO

 

12-3   Amend the Constitution: to Establish A New

            Standard for Renewal Energy“25 by 2025”................................... Vote NO

 

12-4   Amend the Constitution: to Establish The Michigan

            Quality Home Care Council and Provide Collective

            Bargaining for In-Home Health Care Workers............................... Vote NO

 

12-5   Amend the Constitution: to Require a 2/3 Majority Vote

            of House and Senate to Enact New Taxes by State Gov’t.............. Vote NO

 

12-6   Amend the Constitution:  Regarding Construction of

             International Bridges and Tunnels............................................... Vote NO

 

 

Delta College Millage Renewal

            Eight Year $0.4864 per $1,000 millage renewal,

            continuing the current rate of funding for Delta College............... Vote YES

 

Saginaw Chamber President Bob Van Deventer stated,  “Our Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse a NO vote on each of the proposed amendments to our state’s constitution. We are against the attempt of special interest groups to embed public policy into Michigan’s constitution.”

 

Van Deventer also stated,  “We are in favor of reinstating Public Act 4 (Proposal 12-1), because this law more clearly defines the trigger points indicating financial stress within a municipality, allowing them to be considered for an Emergency Manager appointment by the Governor’s office. This law also provides more effective resources to the Emergency Manager to develop effective plans for recovery”.

 

County and State House of Representatives Candidates:

The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce has completed a review and endorsement process for all County and State Representative candidates willing to participate. Each candidate was provided with a questionnaire that asked for the candidate’s viewpoints on difficult issues that impact residents and businesses in Saginaw County and the Great Lakes Bay Region. The questions asked the candidates for their positions on the statewide ballot issues in the November 6th election, recommendations they have for addressing Public Safety issues within Saginaw County, their positions on the issues of Prevailing Wage and Minimum Wage status in Michigan, and their recommendations for maintaining balanced budgets for the State and County.

 

The following list represents the Chamber’s endorsement position, based upon the candidates’ answers to the questionnaire and their personal interviews conducted by the Chamber’s Screening and Endorsement Committee. Because not all candidates elected to participate in the endorsement process, and some of the candidates are unopposed, the Chamber elected not to make endorsements in some of the races.

 

Candidates Endorsed

 

State House of Representatives

94th District............................... Tim Kelly (R)

95th District............................... No Endorsement

 

County Officials

Prosecutor............................... Matthew Frey (R)

County Clerk............................ Susan Kaltenbach (D)

 

County Commissioner

District 1.................................. Patrick Wurtzel (R)

District 2.................................. Alex Boese (R)

District 3.................................. Kirk Kilpatrick (R)

District 6.................................. Ron Sholtz (R)

District 8.................................. Dennis Kraft (R)

 

 

ALERT: State Tax Reform Proposal Agreement - 4-2011 

On Tuesday, April 12, 2011, Governor Snyder, Senate Majority Leader Richardville, and House Speaker Bolger came to an agreement on Tax Reform. The following elements are part of this plan based on the original framework as proposed by Governor Snyder:

  • Repeal the MBT - while honoring commitments to those with "certificated" credits.
  • Individual Income Tax Rate will be frozen at 4.35% and roll back to 4.25% on 1/1/13.
  • CIT of 6%
  • Flow-through entities will continue to pay Individual Income Tax (4.35% until phase-down to 4.25%)

Retirement/Pension Tax Changes

  • Seniors/Retirees over 67 years of age as of January 1, 2012 will NOT lose their exemptions on pensions and other retirement income (grandfathered).
  • People 60-66 years of age as of January 1, 2012 will receive an exemption for all Social Security income PLUS a $20,000 for single filers or $40,000 for joint filers retirement income exemption. (Retirement income includes public pensions, private pensions, 401ks, IRAs). When people born between Jan. 1, 1946 and Dec. 31, 1952 turn 67, they'd qualify for a senior income exemption of $20,000 for a single filer and $40,000 for joint filers, regardless of income source.
  • People 59 years of age and under as of January 1, 2012 will be part of the new program. When this group turns 67 years old they will receive a $20,000 single filer or $40,000 joint filer special senior exemption against all types of income. This is regardless of income source and can be taken instead of the Social Security and personal exemptions if it would result in more generous tax treatment to the individual.

Homestead Property Tax Changes

  • The Homestead Property Tax Credit will go from 60% to 100% for people with household incomes between $0-$20,000.
  • For household incomes between $20,001 - $30,000, the Homestead Property Tax Credit will be phased down from 100% to 60%.
  • For household incomes greater than $30,000 the Homestead Property Tax Credit would be 60%.
  • The credit for persons with disabilities would remain at 100%
  • The maximum credit would remain at $1,200 and would be phased out for income between $41,000 - $50,000.

All other changes as originally proposed by the Governor remain intact as part of this agreement.

 

 

ENDORSEMENT: Sheriff's Millage Proposal - 3-2011 

The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has voted to endorse a YES vote on the One Mill County Law Enforcement Proposal which will appear on the May ballot.

 

The One Mill Law Enforcement Proposal (Sheriff's Millage Proposal) includes the following elements:

 

  • Place before the voters of Saginaw County a question of continued support of 1 mill for current levels of law enforcement within Saginaw County. Such continued levels of support are to include the County Jail, Detectives and the County Road Patrol.
  • Further reduce funding and associated staffing in 12 departments of the County.
  • Take action to eliminate benefits for County Commissioners and continue pay freezes for all elected Officials.

"Maintaining a safe community with a strong police force and criminal justice system is vital to improving the quality of life and the economy of Saginaw County," said Chamber President Bob VanDeventer.

 

 

For additional information, please contact Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce President Bob VanDeventer at 989-757-2114 or email bob@saginawchamber.org.

 

 

ENDORSEMENT: The Michigan Turnaround Plan in Principle - 11-2010 

The Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce voted in November of 2010 to endorse The Michigan Turnaround Plan in principle. To download the full resolution, click here.

 To download the executive summary of The Michigan Turnaround Plan, click here.

Visit The Michigan Turnaround Plan website for additional information at www.MichiganTurnaroundPlan.com