FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-2 PAGES
Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Brandt Coultas, V.P. of Government Affairs
(734) 214-0101, brandt@annarborchamber.org

ANN ARBOR AREA CHAMBER OPPOSES K-16 SPENDING MANDATE

Joins Coalition calling on Governor and State Legislature to reject automatic, guaranteed funding increases

MARCH 3, 2006—The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce does not support the K-16 education funding proposal to mandate annual increases in education spending.

“Education is very important to the future economic success of the Ann Arbor area, our businesses, our residents and our state, but it is inappropriate to provide automatic funding increases without requiring accountability,” said Sabrina Keeley, President & CEO of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce. “No one should be given public money without assurances of satisfactory delivery of services.” 

To fight the proposal, the Chamber has joined the Coalition to Stop the K-16 Spending Mandate, a growing alliance of taxpayers, local governments and law enforcement officials, calling upon Governor Jennifer Granholm and the State Legislature to oppose a proposal that would provide automatic, guaranteed annual increases in education funding. 

The K-16 education funding proposal calls for, among other things, annual increases in K-12, community college, and state university spending by the rate of inflation. Proponents of the guaranteed increases have collected enough signatures to have the State Legislature vote on the issue and place the proposal on the November ballot, if necessary.  

The non-partisan House Fiscal Agency has estimated the proposal would cost state government approximately $1.1 billion more per year over current education spending. Nowhere in the lengthy wording of the petition is there any reference to education quality, student achievement, test scores, or graduation rates.

The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce joins many other state groups that oppose this proposal, including the Grand Rapids Area Chamber, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Association of Michigan, Michigan Association of Realtors, Michigan Association of Home Builders, Michigan Restaurant Association, Michigan Association of Counties, Michigan Townships Association and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

The Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in Washtenaw County. The mission of the Ann Arbor Area Chamber is to support our members by promoting commerce in the greater Ann Arbor area through business advocacy and leadership in economic, political and educational development. Membership means: access to health care; advocacy; benefits & cost savings; connections; and exposure for business. 

 

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