PROPOSAL 02-2: Bond Authority for Sewer Infrastructure Improvements

Brief Overview

In May of 2002 the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives passed with the required 2/3 majorities, a measure to place a bond proposal before Michigan voters at the 2002 General Election on November 5, 2002. (See vote details.) Michigan law requires a vote of the people to increase state debt. If passed, this proposal would authorize the state to sell up to $1 billion in bonds to pay for reducing combined sewage overflow from municipal sewer systems. Combined systems are those in which sanitary sewers and storm sewers are connected, and can cause problems during heavy rains when sewage from homes flows into waterways via storm sewer runoff.

Contents

• View election results
• Brief description of the initiative
• History and background
• Language that will appear on Nov. 5 ballot
• Support and oppostion
  • Arguments in support
  • Arguments in opposition
• Commentary and editorials on this and related issues
  • Questions voters should ask when considering the sewer bond proposal
  • "A Deeper Look" by Lawrence Reed
  • "A Deeper Look" by Lynn Jondahl
  • Editorials from prominent newspapers
• Research
  • Review of Environmental Bond Fund Uncovers Inflated Costs, Misplaced Priorities
  • SEMCOG Report, April, 2001
  • Prevailing wage adds to cost of government construction projects
  • House Legislative Analysis Section Analysis of Authorizing Legislation
  • House Fiscal Agency Analysis of Ballot Proposals
  • Senate Fiscal Agency Analysis of Ballot Proposals
  • Citizens Research Council Analysis of Ballot Proposals
• News coverage
• Text of statutes authorizing the bond proposal
  • Public Act 396 of 2002 (HB 4625)
  • Public Act 397 of 2002 (HB 5892)