MBT Impact Assessment Subcommittee hears testimony from Oakland County business owners
LANSING — Business owners from across Oakland County testified before the Senate MBT Impact Assessment Subcommittee Thursday on ways to improve the state’s new Michigan Business Tax.
“Michigan’s economic engine runs on business,” said subcommittee chair Sen. Mark Jansen, R-Gaines Township. “If the state’s job providers are suffering because of unintended consequences of the MBT, then we need to make some changes and work to fix it.”
Jansen was selected to chair the MBT Impact Assessment Subcommittee by Senate Finance Committee Chair Nancy Cassis, R-Novi. Other members of the bipartisan subcommittee include Sens. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, and Michael Prusi, D-Ishpeming.
Joe Kucik of Real Green Systems, an Oakland County business that employs about 100 workers in high-tech jobs, was one of several people to testify about their tax burden increase. Based on the new MBT requirements, the business, which has been in operation more than 50 years, has seen an approximately 100 percent increase in its taxes.
“Unfortunately some of these businesses will fail or move from the state. Michigan would lose 100 high-tech jobs if our company is forced to leave the state,” Kucik said. “Please fight for us—we don’t want to move; we love it here.”
The MBT replaced the widely despised Single Business Tax last year. Since the inception of the new tax, the Finance Committee has listened to copious testimony that the tax is unduly harming small businesses.
“Hearing input from those actually paying the MBT is vital to the success of improving the new tax,” Gilbert said. “Today’s hearing gave business owners the opportunity to let us know what changes are needed.”
Recommendations will be made to the Senate Finance Committee by June 1.
Posted: Friday, May 16, 2008
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