When an economy is having problems and jobs are leaving your state, the normal thing to do is to help businesses. Michigan has other ideas.
The Detroit Free Press’ headline screams, “Chaos averted with deal to raise income tax, add tax to services.” What does that mean for residents of Michigan?
Directly, your state income tax rate has just increased from 3.9% to 4.35%. Additionally, services will now be subject to the 6% state sales tax.
Indirectly, Michigan has just become an even less competitive state for businesses. Why would anyone in their right mind locate a business in the state where the only sure thing is big government?
“Chaos” may have been averted, but the people of Michigan will be long-term losers because of this budget. Interestingly (but not surprisingly), all but one of the Democrats in Michigan’s state senate voted for the tax increase, and all but three Republicans voted against it.