LANSING – As the Michigan Senate still had not received the property tax measure (HJR III ), which passed the House last week, it appeared the two legislative leaders were conversing on a larger approach to tax reform Wednesday.
A spokesperson for House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Twp.) said Dillon and Bishop were supposed to talk over the phone Wednesday afternoon about the legislation, as well as how to look at a more comprehensive plan to restructure Michigan taxes.
On Wednesday, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said the legislation, should it be approved by voters, would mean layoffs for some of the county’s employees because it would cut revenues by $8 million.
“These are really tough numbers to swallow. Every county in Michigan will be affected,” Patterson said during a meeting with the Engineering Society of Detroit, on which the Detroit Free Press reported.
Greg Bird, Mr. Dillon’s spokesperson, said Democrats hope the comprehensive plan the speaker is seeking, which includes eliminating the MBT surcharge, could be something for Mr. Patterson to support.
Local officials have said the measure would freeze property tax assessments when a home value declines and place a “super cap” on assessments when a home value increases by limiting that increase to the percentage point rise in home value.
Those officials, along with school and union officials, sent a letter to lawmakers recently asking them to keep the proposal off the ballot.
But proponents of the legislation say many Michigan residents need property tax relief
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