• New Con-Con Series Paper: Article V – Executive Branch
• New Podcasts: i) Con-Con series, Article IV-Legislative Branch; ii) SCOTUS Decision Could Impact Michigan Property Tax Foreclosure Process
• Council Brief: A Few Items of Note in the FY2027 School Aid Budget Proposals

Article V – Executive Branch, is the eighth in the Research Council’s series of 15 papers providing information to Michigan voters ahead of the November ballot question on whether a constitutional convention (con-con) should be held.

Unlike some other articles in the 1963 Constitution, Article V does not include obsolete provisions that have been ruled unconstitutional or inoperable – meaning a constitutional convention would not be tasked with developing conforming language with the U.S. Constitution or U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

While Article V has not been the subject of considerable attention regarding amendments, a con-con could revisit the power of the governor and consider several issues surrounding the executive branch of government, including reorganization powers of the governor, the authority of the governor to call special elections to fill legislative vacancies, and the governor’s appointment authority, as it is limited by the senate’s advice and consent power.

The Citizens Research Council takes no position on whether to call a constitutional convention.

#FactsMatter host Guy Gordon and Research Council President Eric Lupher discuss the 8th paper in the con-con series, breaking down Article IV – Legislative Branch, which, Lupher explains, has been the most frequently targeted article for amendment because voters often want to limit legislative power. Yet most attempts fail at the ballot box.

With redistricting and gerrymandering across the country dominating the news, following a recent US Supreme Court decision weakening the federal Voting Rights Act, other states are aggressively gerrymandering, while Michigan’s hands are tied. A con-con could revisit Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.

Tweaking term limits, strengthening financial disclosure laws, and addressing long-standing dysfunction could also result from a con-con — but it would be an all-or-nothing gamble.

Last week’s episode spotlights a Michigan property tax case before the U.S. Supreme Court – Pung v. Isabella County – that could reshape how states handle tax foreclosures and protect homeowners’ equity. Guy and Madhu Anderson, senior research associate for local affairs, discuss the story of the Pung family from Isabella County. Anderson’s recent brief, More Changes on the Horizon for Michigan’s Property Tax Foreclosure Process, focuses on changes to Michigan’s tax foreclosure process that should be made to address the issues raised by the case, including expanding homeowner education, easing the claims process for surplus proceeds, improving the transparency and competitiveness of tax auctions, and reviewing the impact of the current interest rate and penalty structure for delinquent taxes on property owners and local governments.

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Setting aside the contents of the Michigan’s House, Senate and Executive budget proposals, making them public this early is certainly good news for local governments, colleges/universities and K-12 schools that rely on state appropriations and must have their final spending plans approved well before the state’s fiscal year begins on October 1.

In a Nutshell:

— With both the house and senate chambers’ FY2027 state budget proposals now public, and Governor Whitmer’s recommendation released in February, all parties have laid their cards on the table to begin negotiations towards budget completion before the July 1 statutory deadline.

— Within the School Aid budget, we examine a few items where there is coherence and disagreement across the three proposals.

— The next step in the budget cycle is the May state revenue estimating conference that will set the School Aid Fund revenue parameters to guide budget negotiations and completion.