By John Bebow - January 28, 2009
Last week, the Center published a list of more than $1.5 billion in possible ways to reform state government and the public purse. The emails — both complimentary and irate — began flowing moments later.
Now, it's your turn.
We published our initial list as a conversation starter in what is likely to be a painful year of negotiation in Lansing. Add your voice to the discussion! Send us your approaches on how to change the way Michigan does the public's business and we'll publish your ideas in an upcoming Fresh Thoughts newsletter. To participate, simply post your ideas here or email us at info@thecenterformichigan.net.
2 Comments
I have alot of ideas for reform, but as an attorney, and someone who teaches young adults on the community college level, I have noticed a trend of more and more students starting life with criminal records. Have students gotten worse in 7 years, or do we have an overzealous police force? Is it Michigan public policy to make criminals of its citizens?
Here is one small suggestion: Presently their is a House Bill in the state Judiciary Committee that would allow expungements of a criminal matter, if the second conviction consists of one or two misdemeanors (including traffic offenses). This bill has the support of the State Bar of Michigan and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association and would effectively overrule the Court of Appeals decision in People v. Grier. Or better yet, follow Texas's lead and adopt the "Fresh Start Rule" for Juveniles, which is an automatic expungement when the child turns 21 years old
Here is one idea that has worked well in other states:
Consolidate the 57 intermediate school districts into a few regional service centers covering combined counties with similar total populations.
At present, most counties have their own intermediate school district, with only a handful of counties sharing services through a combined, multi-county district. In other states, far fewer service districts do more. For example, in Kentucky, which has regional educational cooperatives or service centers performing similar functions to our intermediate districts, each service center serves about 475,000 people. In Michigan, intermediate districts serve about 175,000 on the average. Larger districts will work for Michigan, as they now do in counties with populations over 1 million: Oakland and Wayne. Given the ease of communication via internet, video conferencing, etc., the wider areas included in fewer districts would not be a significant impediment compared to the potential savings in administrative costs.
Post a Comment