Survey: Reform state now
Voters want action; ideas include releasing some offenders, changing benefits for workers.
Marisa Schultz / The Detroit News
Dismayed with the state's economy and political leadership, Michigan voters are ready for drastic reforms -- including keeping nonviolent offenders out of prison -- to get the state back on track, according to a new survey released today.
"There is a remarkable unanimity on these issues, even among union households," said Richard Czuba, founder the Glengariff Group Inc., which conducted the telephone survey of 800 voters from July 16-21. "Voters have a very clear idea of the direction they want the state to go -- they want reform. Voters are way ahead of the Legislature and governor on reform."
The poll,
called the Michigan Priorities Survey, was commissioned by Detroit
Renaissance, a private, nonprofit leadership organization aimed at
boosting economic growth. Leaders of the group will give the survey
results to
lawmakers and follow up with specific policy suggestions
they hope lawmakers will adopt.
"Hopefully, we are reaching a point where we can drive change simply by tapping into the anger of people who don't want to live like this anymore," said Renaissance board Chairman David Brandon. "If people don't listen to these findings, I don't know what they'll listen to."
Spokesmen for two leaders in the Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, and Speaker of the House Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, said they are receptive to the study's findings and agreed difficult reforms are necessary.
"We certainly agree with many of the findings in terms of the need to continue to make reforms to state government and make it more efficient and accountable," said Greg Bird, spokesman for Dillon.
The survey not only captured the overwhelming dissatisfaction voters have with the state's economy, but asked them to examine 12 often controversial solutions to Michigan's structural deficit.
Despite political and demographic differences, survey respondents showed strong support for some key reforms. Among them:
• Nearly 80 percent support finding means of punishment for nonviolent offenders, other than prison. It costs $5 million a day, or $2 billion a year, to run Michigan's prison system, but leaders in Lansing have been at odds on how to reduce costs and the inmate population -- expected to top 56,000 within five years.
• Nearly 75 percent said they would support increasing health care premiums for state employees. State employees pay between 5 percent and 10 percent of the cost of their health care premium, whereas private sector employees typically pay between 16 and 28 percent of their premiums, according to the survey.
• About 74 percent said they support changing retirement benefits for new teachers. Michigan teachers have a defined benefit system, which requires school districts to pay a specific amount into the retirement system each year. Those surveyed favored a 401(k)-type individual contribution plan for new teachers.
Doug Pratt, director of communications for the Michigan Education Association, said overhauling the teacher retirement system will not solve the state's budget problems overnight.
"Switching to a defined contribution plan would save money over the very long run, but in the short term it would actually cost more," Pratt said, referring to the costs to maintain two retirement programs.
While new hires may make contributions to a 401(k)-type program, school districts would still have to make payments under the old system for years, he said.
Renaissance President Doug Rothwell says he hopes the poll results will guide lawmakers' decisions. "We're trying to give them some guidance as to not only how the public feels, but what changes can be made," Rothwell said. "We have a window of opportunity here to get some things done."