Citizens for Equity One Year Anniversary

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Citizens for EquityOne Year Anniversary
May 16, 2007
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Why We Exist?

• Inequitable school funding throughout Michigan
• Discrimination based on zip code
• Our sole purpose is to work for equitable funding
• This is a policy issue
• Do not confuse this with a budget issue

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How are Schools Funded?

• Schools are state funded institutions
• State derives its funding from a wide array of
  sources

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Breakdown of Funding Sources
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Additional Funding Source

• Non-Homestead (18 mils)
• All of the non-homestead revenues that districts
  raise locally are completely offset by
  corresponding reductions in state aid within the
  state funding formula. As a result, property
  taxes to support schools are effectively STATE
  rather than local sources.
• (Reference Michigan School Finance Under
  Proposal A State Control, Local Consequences
  David Plank)

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How Much do Schools Receive?

• The State determines how much the children of
  each school district are worth

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State Funding Inequities
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Change in Tax Payments Under Proposal A for
Selected School Districts
Dr. Davis Arsen, Michigan State University,
Presentation to MSBO, April 24, 2007
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Average Change in Tax Payments Under Proposal A
Dr. Davis Arsen, Michigan State University,
Presentation to MSBO, April 24, 2007
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CFE Accomplishments to Date

• Statewide awareness of these issues
• Other areas of state have become actively
  involved
• Legislature is keenly aware of issue
• Howard Walker is a member of our group
• Many others have vocally supported our cause
  including Senator Jason Allen, Representatives
  Elsenheimer and Gillard Many other from both
  sides of the aisle.

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CFE Accomplishments to Date, cont.

• Top issue of November election in North
• We have provided testimony at House Senate K-12
  Appropriation Committee meetings
• 23 Equity payment in current state aid act
• Proposed 100 by House for 07/08
• Take a look at our Web site
• www.citizensforequity.org

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Further Action

• What can you do?
• Become a member of Citizens for Equity
• Visit website often for updates and action items

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Questions Answers