LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A public school advocacy group is trying to get an initiative on the ballot in November that would tax the wealthiest residents to fund public schools.
Invest in MI Kids is yet another organization created to pitch for more money for public schools.
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The latest idea is a ballot proposal that would charge a 5% income tax on any individual who made more than $1 million for a joint return or $500,000 for a single return. That money would be earmarked for local school districts.
The organization, as like many similar public school advocacy groups championing for more money, says Michigan’s public schools have been underfunded.
TV station WZZM stated in an Aug. 21 article that the group says there is a $4.5 billion shortfall in school funding. WZZM didn’t state where that $4.5 billion figure came from.
David Arsen is a Michigan State University professor who for years has advocated for more spending on public schools. Arsen estimated in 2019 that the study produced by the Michigan School Finance Research Collaborative stated public schools needed an additional $3.5 billion a year.
But Michigan’s public schools reached record-levels of funding since the pandemic hit and there hasn’t been an uptick in student academic performance.
In 2018-19, K-12 schools received $14.8 billion in total funding, including federal money. Since then, K-12 funding has been $16.0 billion, $21.7 billion, $17.1 billion, $20.2 billion, $21.6 billion and $20.6 billion in 2024-25.