Lake Effect poll finds state residents are hungry for bold, progressive policies

LANSING – New polling released this week from Lake Effect found that 62% of respondents support ending the dark stores tax loophole, where big box retailers’ property taxes are assessed as if the store is a vacant “dark store” even if it is fully operational, resulting in much lower property taxes for these stores. The dark store loophole has saved retail giants hundreds of millions of dollars in property taxes over the past decade and cost local governments the same amount in tax revenue – forcing municipalities to contend with lost revenue used to fund programs for kids and seniors, parks, libraries, and more.

“Michiganders consistently tell us that they deeply care about funding education, infrastructure, mental health, child care, and other critical public services,” said Fund MI Future Executive Director MoReno Taylor II.  “What Michiganders don’t want are more tax breaks for corporations already raking in record profits.”

Fifty-five percent of poll respondents support implementing 15 weeks of paid leave to deal with family and medical crises – a provision that was recently referred to as “summer camp for adults” in a tone-deaf memo issued by Michigan House Republicans. Meanwhile, 62 percent of respondents support requiring companies to pay severance when 20 or more employees are laid off. Taylor said these numbers indicate that Michiganders are tired of sacrificing popular public goods and services for corporate profits. 

Taylor also noted that 59% of respondents said the wealthy are not paying their fair share in taxes, and the same percentage of people support the policy agenda laid out recently by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, including paid family and medical leave, a 100% clean energy standard, further protections for abortion access, election security, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

“It seems pretty simple: if we want to enact the bold policies laid out by the Governor, we will need more revenue,” Taylor said. “Working families are already paying their fair share in taxes; it’s time that wealthy individuals and billion-dollar corporations do the same, and a majority of Michganders clearly agree.”

Fund MI Future is a joint effort of community organizations, unions of working people, and policy experts. FMF is working to create shared prosperity for all Michiganders by fully and fairly funding our public services like schools, roads, and clean water.

###