Millionaire tax proposal for Michigan schools pulled from 2026 ballot plans
The 2026 ballot will not include a proposal from Invest in MI Kids, which advocated what it called a modest 5% surcharge on incomes above $1 million, or $500,000 for individuals, to invest directly in Michigan’s public schools.
In a press release issued Thursday evening, the committee said it was abandoning its effort to have the issue appear on the ballot this year. Invest in MI Kids said it would instead focus on the 2028 cycle, with work resuming in 2027.
“This was not an easy decision. We are extraordinarily proud of the team of volunteers we have assembled. We are inspired by the thousands of Michiganders who have dedicated their time and energy to this campaign, gathering nearly 250,000 signatures,” Rachelle Crow-Hercher, chair of the Invest in MI Kids Steering Committee, said in a statement. “However, we owe it to our volunteers to be realistic about what is achievable to qualify for this year’s ballot, and we unfortunately do not see a path forward to get the signatures we need to participate in the 2026 ballot.”
The group noted that its attempt to place such a question on the ballot was a first and that a similar effort in Massachusetts took three attempts to succeed.
Volunteer enthusiasm was high, the committee said, despite its decision to ultimately suspend the campaign.
“We always knew we were going to face strong headwinds from billionaires who don’t want to pay their fair share,” Crow-Hercher said. “But the dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteers over the past few months has been truly inspiring. At a time when working people are struggling to pay their growing bills, Michiganders from Detroit to Houghton have come together to organize for a world where Michiganders come before billionaires’ yachts.”
The proposal would have added a surcharge, which would have directly paid Michigan public schools. Under the current tax system, billionaires and teachers pay the same tax rate, and the committee argued that its proposal would help reduce class sizes, retain and recruit educators, and continue to boost career and technical education.
“Our work is far from done. We know our schools and communities are going to face serious budget cuts over the coming years,” Crow-Hercher said. “But there are courageous, committed people in every county in this state who are ready to stand up and fight for a better future. We built this campaign to create a movement that lasts beyond a single election year. We’re just getting started.”
The development follows a similar decision in December by Rank MI Vote, which had been pushing for a ballot initiative to establish ranked-choice voting in Michigan, to also suspend its statewide efforts and instead focus on the 2028 ballot.
