Michigan Proposal J, Tax Limitations and Program Funding Initiative (1978)

Michigan Proposal J
Election date November 7, 1978
Topic Ballot measure process and Income taxes
Status Defeated
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

Michigan Proposal J was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in Michigan on November 7, 1978. It was defeated.

A “yes” vote supported establishing tax limitations and requiring the state to fully fund any new or expanded local programs that the state deems required.

A “no” vote opposed establishing tax limitations and requiring the state to fully fund any new or expanded local programs that the state deems required.

Election results

Michigan Proposal J
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,032,343	37.28%
No		1,737,133	62.72%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposal J was as follows:

“

PROPOSAL J PROPOSAL TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS; TO ESTABLISH A MAXIMUM OF 5.6% ON THE RATE OF THE STATE INCOME TAX; TO PROHIBIT LEGISLATURE FROM REQUIRING NEW OR EXPANDED LOCAL PROGRAMS WITHOUT STATE FUNDING; AND TO ALLOW SCHOOL INCOME TAX WITH VOTER APPROVAL. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD: Reduce real and personal property tax assessments to 25% of true cash value of property. Limit state equalization increase to 2.5 % for any year. Establish a maximum of 5.6% on the rate of the state income tax. Allow legislature to authorize school districts to levy up to 1 % income tax with local school district voter approval. Prohibit legislature from requiring new Or expanded local programs unless fully funded by state. Should this amendment be adopted? YES NO

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Michigan

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Michigan, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

See also

1978 Measures

• 1978 Measures
• Ballot measure process on the ballot
• Local government finance and taxes on the ballot
• Public education funding on the ballot
• Income taxes on the ballot
• Property taxes on the ballot
• 1978 legislative sessions

Michigan

• Michigan ballot measures
• Michigan ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Michigan Department of State, "Initiatives and Referendums Under the Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963," December 5, 2008