Invest in MI Kids: A Fair-Share Solution for Michigan Schools

Michiganders: our schools are facing a growing crisis. According to state data, Michigan’s K–12 system faces an annual funding shortfall of $4–5 billion, and facilities alone require an estimated $23 billion in repairs and upgrades through 2033. But there’s good news. The Invest in MI Kids ballot initiative is a constitutional amendment designed to generate $1–1.7 billion per year by adding a 5% “fair share” surcharge to income above $500,000 for single filers and $1 million for joint filers. Funds would be dedicated to local classroom resources, career and technical education, hiring and retaining teachers, and reducing class sizes, all subject to annual audits. The surcharge applies only to the amount above the threshold and only to individual taxpayers NOT to small businesses directly, even those filing as S-corps or LLCs. To qualify for the November 2026 ballot, the initiative must gather approximately 447,000 valid signatures within a 180-day window.

Organized by Keweenaw Against the Oligarchy (KATO)