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Canvassers approve summary for Invest in MI Kids 'fair‑share' surcharge proposal
Summary
After two hours of debate, the Board of State Canvassers on June 27 approved a 100‑word summary for a proposed constitutional amendment from Invest in MI Kids that would add a 5% surcharge on annual taxable income above specified thresholds and direct revenue to the state school aid fund; opponents called the measure a graduated income tax and
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved a 100‑word summary June 27 for a proposed constitutional amendment from Invest in MI Kids that would add a 5% surcharge on annual taxable income above $1,000,000 for joint filers and $500,000 for single filers and dedicate revenue to the state school aid fund.
Sponsor representatives said the summary should use the term “surcharge” to convey an additional tax rather than alter the state’s current income tax structure. Rowan Connybear, counsel for Invest in MI Kids, asked the board to include the implementation year and to make clear the revenue would be dedicated to the school aid fund and subject to implementing legislation that the legislature may pass consistent with the amendment.
Opponents argued the proposal is effectively a graduated income tax and urged the board to make that plain in the summary. Dan Ziegler, counsel for a coalition opposing the measure, told the canvassers the measure “creates a new tax bracket for annual income over $500,000” and that voters should be told the combined effect on the top marginal rate. Other opponents suggested the summary should warn that the measure does not index the threshold for inflation and therefore could cover a much broader segment of taxpayers over time.
After debate the board adopted a deputy‑director draft with edits: the summary calls the change an additional annual 5% tax on taxable income above the thresholds, says the tax will be deposited into the state school aid fund and specifies that the funds must be used for school‑level purposes. The board voted to approve the 100‑word summary; sponsors were asked to submit a corrected petition form if they revise text before staff conducts the usual form check.
The vote leaves a clear path for Invest in MI Kids to circulate petitions with the board‑approved summary; opponents signaled they may challenge wording in later proceedings.
