Insider Intelligence

The House passed one of the Democratic caucuses’ priorities, voting on legislation providing a number of tax reforms. Introduced by Representative Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp.), the bill phases out the current three-tier retirement tax system so that all taxpayers could claim the maximum deduction allowed. The proposal also increases the Earned Income Tax Credit in […]

Michigan’s pension tax would see significant changes under legislation passed by the Senate this week. Introduced by Senator Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), the bill would repeal changes enacted in 2011 when the state was facing a recession. Taxpayers would be eligible to deduct a percentage of retirement or pension benefits and social security benefits […]

This week, Representative Joe Bellino (R-Monroe) introduced legislation repealing Michigan’s pension tax that was first charged in 2012. Currently the system is a three-tiered retirement tax structure based on the year a person is born. Under his proposal, Michigan’s previous retirement tax structure would be re-established and both public pensions and social security income would […]

Sine Die has come and gone in Lansing. As our Michigan lawmakers closed the books on this legislative session, we tallied the numbers to see what was accomplished in the statehouse.

This week, the Michigan Supreme Court issued an order finding that Public Act 75 of 2010 is unconstitutional. Under the law, public school employees had to contribute 3% of their salary for future retiree health care. “This measure was passed during a massive overhaul to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System, which at the […]

This week, the House and Senate passed identical bill packages making reforms to retiree benefits in local communities. Originally as introduced the bills would have made major reforms and included changes that police and firefighters believed would significantly reduce or remove their earned benefits.  Following a major push by stakeholders and several legislators, the House […]

This week, the House and Senate introduced legislation making reforms to retiree benefits in local communities. Over the past month there has been increasing talk around the Capitol of making such changes in response to local governments who are facing unfunded liabilities. On Wednesday, police and firefighters, who receive local pensions and benefits, showed up […]

On Tuesday, the Responsible Retirement Reform for Local Government Task Force released their report of recommendations.  The proposals are focused on addressing local pension and health care costs, ensuring retiree support, and providing more financial stability and effective delivery of local government services.  “The increasing costs of retirement benefits has been a major issue for […]