Taxes shape more than government revenue. They influence how fast a state grows, how businesses invest, where families choose to live, and how large government grows. Across the country, states are testing different approaches to taxation, and the results offer real-world lessons.

Michigan is no exception. Lawmakers are debating major tax policy ideas with serious implications for the state’s economy, workers and families. This panel will examine some of the biggest proposals in play, including property tax reform, calls to eliminate the state income tax, and the proposed “millionaire’s tax,” which would more than double the state income tax rate for high earners and leave Michiganders with some of the highest combined state and local tax rates in the nation.

Supporters often argue that higher taxes make the tax code fairer or bring in needed revenue. But every tax policy comes with trade-offs, and those trade-offs can affect economic growth, business investment, wages and job creation. In Michigan, the effects are especially important for small businesses, many of which pay taxes through the individual income tax code and employ a large share of the state’s workforce.

Our discussion will explore what different tax choices could mean for Michigan’s competitiveness, its ability to attract and keep residents, and its long-term economic future. Join us for a practical, solutions-focused conversation about tax reform, economic opportunity and the role state policy plays in shaping prosperity.