Brought to you by Election Magic November General 2002 - 11/05/2002

Proposal Text

State Proposal 02-1 -- Amend Certain Sections of Michigan Election Law

A REFERENDUM ON PUBLIC ACT 269 OF 2001 - AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW * Eliminate 'straight party' vote option on partisan general election ballots. * Require Secretary of State to obtain training reports from local election officials. * Require registered voters who do not appear on registration list to show picture identification before voting a challenged ballot. * Require expedited canvass if presidential vote differential is under 25,000. * Require ballot counting equipment to screen ballots for voting errors to ensure the accurate tabulation of absentee ballots. Permit voters in polls to correct errors. * Provide penalties for stealing campaign signs or accepting payment for campaign work while being paid as a public employee to perform election duties. Should this law be approved?

State Proposal 02-2 -- Authorize Bonds for Various Water Projects

A PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE BONDS FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS PROJECTS, STORM WATER PROJECTS AND WATER POLLUTION PROJECTS * Authorize the State of Michigan to borrow a sum not to exceed $1 billion to improve the quality of the waters of the state by financing sewage treatment works projects, storm water projects and water pollution projects. * Authorize the state to issue general obligation bonds pledging the full faith and credit of the state for the payment of principal and interest on the bonds. * Provide for repayment of the bonds from the general fund of the state. Should this proposal be adopted?

State Proposal 02-3 -- Grant State Employees Right to Collective Bargaining with Binding Arbitration

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO GRANT STATE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH BINDING ARBITRATION * Grant state classified employees, in appropriate bargaining units determined by the Civil Service Commission, the right to elect bargaining representatives for the purpose of collective bargaining with the state employer. * Require the state to bargain in good faith for the purpose of reaching a binding collective bargaining agreement with any elected bargaining representatives over wages, hours, pensions and other terms and conditions of employment. * Extend the bargaining representatives the right to submit any unresolved disputes over the terms of a collective bargaining agreement to binding arbitration 30 days after the commencement of bargaining. Should the proposal be adopted?

State Proposal 02-4 -- Reallocation of Tobacco Settlement Revenue Received by the State

A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO REALLOCATE THE 'TOBACCO SETTLEMENT REVENUE' RECEIVED BY THE STATE FROM CIGARETTE MANUFACTURERS * Annually allocate on a permanent basis 90% (approximately $297 million) of 'tobacco settlement revenue' received by state from cigarette manufacturers as follows: $151.8 million to nonprofit hospitals, licensed nursing homes, licensed hospices, nurse practitioners, school-linked health centers and Healthy Michigan Foundation; $102.3 million to fund programs to reduce tobacco use, Health and Aging Research Development Initiative, Tobacco-Free Futures Fund, Council of Michigan Foundations and Nurses Scholarship Program; and $42.9 million to the Elder Prescription Drug Program. * Guarantee recipients funding at 2001 appropriation levels plus additional state funds on an escalating basis for nonprofit hospitals, licensed nursing homes, licensed hospices and nurse practitioners. Should this proposal be adopted?

County 1 -- Youth Services Center (Juvenile Home) Bond Proposal

Shall the County of Calhoun, State of Michigan, borrow the principal sum of not to exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor in one or more series payable in not-to-exceed twenty (20) years from the date of issue, for the purpose of erecting, equipping, and furnishing a youth services center (juvenile home) to be located adjacent to the current juvenile home on 18 1/2 Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan, and preparing and improving the site therefor? The estimated millage to be levied in the first year that the levy is authorized, estimated to be 2002, is .25 mills (.25 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is .36 mills (.36 per $1,000 of taxable value).

County 2 -- Youth Treatment Services Millage Proposal

Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the County of Calhoun, Michigan, be increased by .52 mills (.52 per $1,000 of taxable value) of the taxable value for a period of twenty (20) years, from 2002 to 2021, inclusive, as new additional millage to provide funds for the purpose of operating youth treatment programs within the youth services center (juvenile home), and community youth programs including intervention, diversion, and prevention services, and provided that up to 15% of the amount collected each year from such millage may be set aside by the County and used for repair, replacement and maintenance of the County's youth services center (juvenile home)? It is estimated that .52 mills (.52 per $1,000 of taxable value) would raise approximately $1,400,000 when first levied in 2002. The taxes would be paid to the County.

City of Albion Proposal -- (Recreation Programs)

Shall the City of Albion levy a total of one and one half mills ($1.50 per $1,000.00) on taxable value of property located in the City of Albion for five years beginning with the 2003 tax levy year and running through the 2007 tax levy year (inclusive), which will raise in the first year of such tax levy an estimated revenue of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) to be used for the specific purpose of continuing to operate and expand the City of Albion recreation programs? If approved this would be a new additional millage.

Emmett Charter Township -- (Ballot Proposal for a Township Hall and Public Safety Center Millage)

Shall the tax limitation on general ad valorem taxes within the Charter Township of Emmett imposed under Article IX, Section 6, of the Michigan Constitution, be increased for said Township up to .90 (.90 dollars per $1,000 of taxable value) for the period of 2002 through 2022 inclusive, for the purpose of financing lease payments for a new Township Hall and Public Safety Center to be constructed by the Calhoun County Community Development and leased to the Township under the terms of a 30-year lease with the Township acquiring ownership at lease end and with the further purpose of financing the acquisition of the necessary fixtures, furniture, equipment and moving costs therefor: and shall the Township levy such increased millage for said purpose, thereby raising in the first year an estimated $242,491.80?

Fredonia Township -- (Maintenance and improvements to roads)

Shall the tax limitation on general ad valorem taxes within Fredonia Township, Calhoun County, imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution be increased for said Township by up to 1/2 mill ($.50 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) for the period of 2002 through 2008 inclusive for maintenance and improvements to roads within Fredonia Township, and shall the Township levy such increase in millage for said purpose, thereby, raising in the first year an estimated $21,683.00?

Library Millage Proposal -- Marshall District Library District

Shall the Marshall District Library, County of Calhoun, Michigan, levy an amount not to exceed .5 mills ($.50 on each $1,000 dollars of taxable value) against all taxable real and tangible personal property within the Marshall District Library District in perpetuity beginning in the year 2003, for the purpose of providing funds for all District Library purposes authorized by law; and shall the District Library levy such new additional millage for said purpose; the estimate of the revenue the District Library will collect if the millage is approved and levied in the 2003 calendar year is approximately $223,766.