Citizens in Charge

Reform school spending first, then ask voters this summer to pay more for public education, if necessary, a leading House Democrat proposed Wednesday. House Education Committee Chairman Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, said at an education town hall meeting that plans are in the works to tie spending reforms in areas such as school employee retirement and health care to a ballot initiative in the August primary for a sales tax on services, a reduction in business tax breaks or other revenue measures.

Detroit Public Schools is expected to ask city voters to OK a $500.5 million bond initiative for building upgrades and other needs in the struggling district. The Michigan Department of Treasury last week approved the district’s request to place the initiative on the Nov. 3 ballot. The district has until today to submit language to the city Election Commission to meet the deadline for the ballot, said Daniel Baxter, Detroit’s director of elections. The commission could certify placement as early as today.

The Michigan Democrat Party is exploring a series of initiatives that party officials claim will help the average citizen. Proposed initiatives include hiking the minimum wage to $10, forcing employers to offer health benefits to their workers, and placing a one-year moratorium on home foreclosures. Critics of the plan say the initiatives are “anti-jobs” and “anti-growth” and that they would put the state at a disadvantage when competing with nearby states for business.