East Lansing is currently running a budget deficit due to long term fiscal mismanagement. One of the proposed ways to make up this budget deficit is to impose a tax on all income earned in East Lansing. The proposed tax for the November 2017 ballot is 1% for East Lansing residents and 0.5% for income earned in East Lansing by non-residents, with an income exemption of $600 (savings of $3 or $6 depending on residence). This income tax proposal is tied to a property tax decrease
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This tax will cost university workers roughly 5.5 million dollars per year
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Roughly $800k of this will come just from students
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This income tax will cost TAs that live outside East Lansing that work half time year round at least $100
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Decreasing property tax and increasing a flat rate income tax will reduce burden on high earners, while placing an undue burden on young families, students, and renters
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Faculty and other people with high earning potential can just leave East Lansing for other nearby communities, which was not considered in the financial studies that lead to the proposal on this tax
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If you live in Lansing, your total city income tax rate will be the same, but the city of Lansing will lose access to approximately $800k in revenue, which is currently supporting vital public service projects
Vote: Tuesday November 7, 2017
Registration Deadline: Tuesday October 10
For more information or to get involved, contact: politicalaction@geuatmsu.org