Election Day
It’s election day in Michigan but, as Steve Carmody reports, very few people expect long lines at polling stations. From Carmody:
There are dozens of school millage votes and school board elections taking place today in Michigan. But school races rarely draw large crowds of voters. There are a few communities voting on controversial, or at least well publicized, issues. Flint voters are casting ballots on two millages. One would generate $2 million a year to reopen the city jail. The other would continue to fund a dozen police officers. Lansing voters are deciding if they want to increase their property taxes to trim their city’s projected 20-plus million dollar budget deficit nearly in half. And in Jackson, voters will decide if they want to merge their city police and fire departments into one public safety department.
Lawmakers Continue Work on Budget
State Senators will take-up Governor Rick Snyder’s tax reform plan at the state Capitol this week. The tax plan would eliminate the unpopular Michigan Business tax and, instead, tax only some corporations and eliminate tax exemptions on certain retiree pensions. Supporters of the plan say it will improve the state economy by helping businesses. Opponents say the plan gives businesses tax breaks on the back of seniors, low income families, and children.
Michigan Gas Prices Hit Record High
Gas prices in the state have never been this high, according to GasBuddy.com. An analyst with GasBuddy says the old record was $4.25 a gallon. Now, prices at the pump in many parts of the state are higher: at $4.29 per gallon or more. It’s predicted that prices could go up even further.
