Letter to the Editor: Students should be wary of Prop 1
TO THE EDITOR:
We believe all students, faculty and staff who vote in the May 5 special election on increasing the sales tax in Michigan from 6 percent to 7 percent should be aware of one of the consequences, should the constitutional amendment pass.
The current school aid fund in Michigan is funded by a portion of the current 6 percent sales tax collected. At present, all of public education benefits from the fund, including K-12, community colleges, career/technical education and four-year colleges/universities.
Should Proposal 15-1 pass, a new School Aid Fund will be created with a significantly increased level of funding. Proposal 15-1 states:
“Expand the use of SAF to community colleges and career/technical education and prohibit use for four-year colleges and universities.”
Thus, Central Michigan University would be locked out of a significantly larger School Aid Fund if Proposal 15-1 passes. All of Michigan’s four-year universities would be funded entirely from the State’s general fund and would compete with all other departments funded by the general fund. Those other departments include corrections, social services, courts, state police, Medicaid, mental health and other miscellaneous programs funded by the general fund.
Thank you for your consideration,
PHILIP KINTZELE
DEBRA MCGILSKY
ED WOELFERT
Faculty, School of Accounting
312 Grawn Hall
989.774.3796
