Two New Videos for SOS!
We’re pleased to provide two new videos for your viewing and use. These are intended to provide factual background information that will help your staff and community better understand the economic situation Michigan faces, and the alternatives for the future. We encourage you to share them with your district’s union leadership, employees and with your school and community groups. You may reproduce them or link to them as you wish. We believe the first step to solving our situation is gaining a common understanding among our diverse stakeholders. SOS will continue to produce these types of videos on a variety of topics for your use; please let us know if there are any specific issues you’d like to see, or any particular speaker who you feel has a message that should be shared.
Video 1): The Facts About Michigan’s Economy
This video provides an economist’s view of Michigan’s economy – how we got to this point and what’s likely for the future. You may view the 37-minute video in full, or watch individual speakers/segments. The video is intended to provide insights into Michigan’s current economic situation. We taped three highly recognized experts: Jeff Guillfoyle, president of the Research Council of Michigan; Doug Roberts, former state treasurer and director of the Institute for Social Policy Research at Michigan State University; and Doug Drake, senior policy analyst for Public Policy Associates and former tax analyst for the Michigan Department of Management and Budget.
Our speakers shared a perspective that Michigan is experiencing a different type of economic setback than in the past – we’ve lost more jobs and income than any time in recent state history, and that our climb back will be slower than in the past. The reduction in business activity and earnings also means that state revenues that are the basis for funding schools and other public services will rebound slowly. If nothing is done to change how schools and other services are funded, the state and our schools will receive less funding than in the past.
Video 2): The Facts About Michigan’s Taxes
This video provides facts about taxes in Michigan, and expert opinion on how we can best change our sources of funding for education and state services. The presenter is Charles Ballard, a well known and respected economist from Michigan State University. He makes the case that Michigan isn’t a high tax state and that there are a number of changes we can make to create a more fair and balanced tax structure. He offers factual data to support his opinions and includes specific policy suggestions for the future.
http://mediasite.mivu.org/Mediasite/Viewer/?peid=8559b26e94da4c8a8e6f5e64ce4f45a7
