A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
At a time when Michigan continues to rank abysmally low in education nationally, the Invest in MI Kids ballot proposal is a symbol of hope and promise for the future of our state’s education system and the young students walking through the doors of our public schools. It proposes a 5% tax surcharge on the wealthiest Michiganders, including joint filers making over $1 million a year and single filers making over $500,000 a year, which will raise more than $1 billion annually for public school funding.
Less than 1% of the top earners in Michigan will see a change in their taxes if the proposal appears on the ballot and is approved by voters this November, and the revenue raised will significantly boost K-12 education in Michigan following decades of state disinvestment. The revenue will be used to support smaller class sizes, better access to career and technical education, and stronger teacher recruitment and retention, all of which is very much needed.
The tax surcharge will also help to narrow a long-standing, unfair gap in the share of income that the wealthiest Michiganders pay in state and local taxes when compared to families making far less. A new analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) shows that the top 1% of earners in Michigan — those making over $670,300 a year — only pay 5.7% of their income to state and local taxes, which is less than any other income bracket in the state. Families that fall into the category of middle income earners are paying the highest share of their income to taxes at an average of 9.7% and the lowest 20% of income earners in Michigan pay an average of 7.1%.
We here at the Michigan League for Public Policy have contended for a long time that Michigan’s tax structure is upside down and the state needs to move toward a graduated income tax so the top earners in the state are paying their fair share for vital public services like education. The Invest in MI Kids ballot proposal would not result in a graduated income tax, but it would to some degree bring Michigan a step closer to that kind of equitable tax structure as the top earners in the state would see their total share of income going toward taxes increase from 5.7% to 7.6%.
It’s also important to reinforce the message that, despite what has been said to the contrary, this proposal is not a small business tax. While a small number of the wealthiest business owners in Michigan will have to pay the surcharge based on their high incomes, the average small business will not. In fact, more than 99% of Michiganders will not see any change to their taxes from this proposal, including many local bookstore owners, restaurant and coffee shop owners, and child care providers.
But beyond the exaggerated claims that have been made about the impact of this proposed tax is something that I think we can all agree is more important: our state’s kids. They are at the heart of this proposal and each and every one of them deserves to receive a quality education that allows them to succeed later in life. That is what this proposal will ultimately accomplish if it makes it across the finish line.
Our latest Kids Count data shows us that only 1 in 4 Michigan students is proficient in reading in fourth grade and in math in eighth grade, and more than 70% of Michigan students in 11th grade are not college-ready. It’s also important to note that students of color and students learning English in many Michigan counties often have worse educational outcomes because of our country’s history of discriminatory practices, like redlining and segregation.
We are proud to have joined partners across the state in gathering signatures over these last two weeks of February to ensure the Invest in MI Kids ballot proposal makes its way in front of voters this November. This is a proposal that we fully endorse and we hope others will support it, as we are confident that it will build a stronger state for all of us by improving outcomes for the next generation of Michiganders. Community members can learn more about the ballot proposal at https://investinmikids.org/.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
