A Michigan School Money Primer for Policymakers, School Officials, Media and Residents

Raising the Drop-Out Age Doesn't Address Existing Systemic Problems

Dr. Ryan S. Olson, director of education policy for the Mackinac Center, spoke with Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry about a proposal to raise the drop-out age from 16 to 18. Olson stressed that the primary problem with the proposal is that it does not address the systemic problems that public schools have educating the students who are already required to attend school.

	A report from the Washington-based Center on Education Policy stated that 63 Michigan schools are planning restructuring as specified by The No Child Left Behind Act, according to The Grand Rapids Press. The Belding board of education has approved a contract with the Belding Education Association union that will provide yearly raises for teachers and save the district between $140,000 and $150,000 in insurance costs, according to The Grand Rapids Press. Education news and analysis for legislators, policymakers and parents. Community colleges: 'Wait and see' on Detroit charter schools Further enrollment decline could open the door for more charter public schools within the Detroit Public Schools boundaries, but would there be takers? Private special ed school might be forced out of building An agreement between Birmingham Public Schools and a Jewish congregation might force a small, private special education school to relocate or close, according to a school founder. Personal use of vehicles, car allowances part of benefit package in some ISDs At least a dozen of Michigan’s 57 intermediate school districts provided a vehicle for business and personal use by their superintendent in 2007, while others paid a car allowance for use at the superintendent’s discretion.		Private special ed school might be forced out of building Unraveling MESSA Mission Creep: Charter School Oversight MEA Report: MEA Members Paying More for Less MDE Earns Failing Grade MEA Document Provides Interesting Details Failing Children: The Problems with Social Promotion The Opportunities of Tax Credits Statewide School Contracting Could Save As Much As $500 Million NCLB Falls Short of Helping Parents Time to Reform Teacher Compensation in Michigan Let the Union Buyer Beware Selective Moral Outrage: MEA Tries to Downgrade MESSA Plan for Its Own Employees Choice Leadership Intermediate School Districts: Innovations That Are Past Their Prime Legislators: Listen to Detroit Parents Michigan Teacher: Raise Charter School Cap Milton Friedman’s ideas are working in Milwaukee schools Getting the teachers union on board for DC school reform It's Time to Get Serious About School Employee Pension Reform Proposal 5 Defeat Means Voters Want Changes A Barbed Portrayal of Urban Public Schools

Michigan Privatization Report is a journal highlighting privatization initiatives throughout the state.

Government Golf Slices City Revenue

Universities Would Benefit from Private Sector's Expertise

Privatization Rolls On Despite Rhetorical Opposition

What a Right-to-Work Law Would Mean for Cities

Tax Increment Financing: The Undoing of Pontiac

Book Review: Plans, Plans and More Plans

March 31 Deadline for Public School Union Decertification Petitions

Union Members’ Attitudes Toward Their Union’s Performance

Card Check, Binding Arbitration and Employee Free Choice

Michigan Labor Law:
What Every Citizen Should Know

Michigan Education Special Services Association:
The MEA’s Money Machine

Too often, key court decisions involving the rights of all of Michigan’s citizens are based on narrow legal briefs that focus only on the interests of the litigants. The Mackinac Center’s Legal Studies project addresses this deficiency by providing the courts with amicus curiae — or “friend of the court” — briefs that explore the broader constitutional, statutory and public policy considerations at stake in these cases. In addition, the Legal Studies Project produces legal analysis of state and national policy issues in order to better inform policymakers, the media and the public.

Field Trips
Area science museums host special programs of interest to budding scientists and their families.

The Third Degree
Test your reading of this issue of MichiganScience.

Contest Winner Takes on Disney
“Little Mermaid” Exposed as Scientific Fallacy

The Great Race
The Technological Challenges of More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

The Mackinac Center's Property Rights Network is dedicated to preserving and expanding private property rights in Michigan by elevating public awareness of these rights and how to protect them; encouraging policymakers to respect property rights when crafting laws and regulations; and identifying, organizing and supporting concerned property owners, thereby establishing an effective statewide property-rights coalition.

Mackinac Center Resources on Michigan's Tax and Budget Debate

Classics on Public Policy

Seven Principles of Sound Public Policy

Government, Poverty and Self-Reliance: Wisdom From 19th Century Presidents

The "Payless Payday"

Cutting Michigan’s Budget
Summary: An in-depth look at Michigan’s fiscal 2005 state budget, with recommendations on how to achieve $2 billion in savings without cutting revenue to the state’s school aid fund. Length: 94 pages.
Publication: May 4, 2004, Mackinac Center Policy Study
Project Manager: Michael D. LaFaive, Mackinac Center director of fiscal policy

Replacing Michigan’s New Taxes With Budget Reductions: Curing $1.358 Billion in Overspending With 55 Specific Recommendations
Summary: This Policy Brief provides 55 specific recommendations that would immediately reduce state spending by $1.358 billion, thereby allowing the state to repeal the October 2007 state tax increases. Length: four pages.
Publication: Oct. 19, 2007, Mackinac Center Policy Brief
Author: Jack McHugh, Mackinac Center senior legislative analyst; foreword by Lawrence W. Reed, president of the Mackinac Center

NEW ITEM - Michigan’s Crisis and Opportunity

Summary: Michigan's economy has declined alarmingly relative to other states. State lawmakers' recent decision to raise taxes by nearly $1.4 billion was a major policy error, but it may prompt a backlash and genuine reform.
Publication: Oct. 29, 2007. Mackinac Center Current Comment
Author: Lawrence W. Reed, president of the Mackinac Center

How to Avoid Raising Taxes
Summary: This commentary provides a quick description of reasonable state budget cuts that would produce an estimated $1.9 billion in state spending reductions.
Publication: July 6, 2007, Mackinac Center Current Comment
Author: Jack McHugh, Mackinac Center senior legislative analyst

Tax Hike Chronicle - Final Entry

Health Savings Accounts Could Save State $194 Million
Summary: Giving more than 52,000 state employees health savings accounts could save taxpayers $194 million annually. Length: 886 words.
Publication: Sept. 28, 2007. Mackinac Center Current Comment
Author: Michael D. LaFaive, director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative

The Only Safe State Spending Bet
Summary: If Michigan legislators force voters to pick between higher taxes or more legalized gambling in order to solve the state’s overspending crisis, then voters should also have the option to limit state spending. Length: 779 words.
Publication: Sept. 5, 2007. Mackinac Center Current Comment
Author: Kenneth M. Braun, Mackinac Center policy analyst

MBT: A More Burdensome Tax?
Summary: The Michigan Legislature ignored business owners, sound economics and itself when it voted to replace the Single Business Tax with the equally burdensome Michigan Business Tax. Length: 726 words.
Publication: Aug. 6, 2007, Mackinac Center Viewpoint
Author: Kenneth M. Braun, Mackinac Center policy analyst

Budget Hawks Should Think Outside the Bars
Summary: Gov. Granholm and the GOP Senate should combine their plans of sentencing reform and privatization to cut significant costs from Michigan’s prison system. Length: 785 words.
Publication: Aug. 2, 2007 Mackinac Center Current Comment
Author: Kenneth M. Braun, Mackinac Center policy analyst

Stealing From the Future (article)
Summary: The Legislature balanced the current year’s budget by shifting the debt to future generations, rather than taking responsible cost-cutting measures and lowering taxes. Length: 759 words.
Publication: June 4, 2007, Mackinac Center Current Comment
Author: Jack McHugh, Mackinac Center legislative analyst

Beware the Ideas of March
Summary: The Legislature missed an