A summer of change: Action by legislators this season could create more vibrant state economy

Never judge a book by its cover. You might miss out on a great story. Remember hearing that from your parents, teachers and librarians?

As summer approaches, so does the opportunity for the state legislature to balance Michigan’s budget. Unlike other budget sessions, though, legislators have the promise of outcome based budgeting, as outlined in the book, The Price of Government, to help them through the process.
In between this book’s cover is the theory behind outcome based budgeting. Currently, MAR is doing everything it can to encourage legislators to use outcome based budgeting to put our state on the road to a brighter future.

Simply put, “outcome”-based budgeting requires that government demonstrate accountability with respect to funding programs. Additionally, it requires that government focus on outcomes associated with what citizens want, as opposed to what the various state departments are used to doing.

I bet that every REALTOR® reading this column right now knows that our clients, Michigan’s citizens, want what all of us want: The American Dream. A steady, well-oiled government that serves its citizens is the first step to a stable economy, a bright future and, ultimately, home ownership.

That is why MAR is getting involved with the outcome based budgeting project. MAR wants to compose the next chapter of Michigan’s story by re-creating the way Michigan’s government does business. Bringing the authors of the book The Price of Government and their staff to Lansing to help our legislators balance Michigan’s budget is in every citizen’s best interest. MAR isn’t doing this as a special interest group or to find a quick solution to Michigan’s unbalanced budget. MAR is doing it because it’s the right thing to do.

The ideals described in The Price of Government give our elected officials a new way to look at taxation by asking about the most effective ways to spend tax dollars based on what citizens want. This outcome based budgeting process brings a sharp focus on a new, more efficient way to assist Michigan citizens — making sure the government’s priorities are their priorities.

That’s right. A government for the people, by the people. With outcome based budgeting, citizens will have more say about the amount of taxes in their future and how these taxes are spent by the government, because programs will be funded based on their performance and necessity, not just because they’ve been funded in the past. Government will be judged by its performance and results, not by the traditional means.

The more reasonable taxation becomes to the average citizen, the more reasonable it will be on businesses and real estate. This leads to more business opportunities coming to Michigan, which ultimately leads to new jobs. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, you can count on one real estate transaction for every 1.6 jobs created by the economy. That means more sales and a better, more vibrant Michigan economy.

Our economy needs this shot in the arm to keep jobs in our state, and to keep our communities strong. Attracting new residents to Michigan will help our state grow.

Let’s support our legislators and encourage them to stick with this new outcome based budget process. We need to let them know that REALTORS® and the citizens of Michigan stand behind them during the budgeting process because we, too, believe in our neighbors and that Michigan’s budget can be balanced using this theory.

When this happens, my fellow REALTORS®, it will be a special day, and we will have one heck of a story to tell to future generations.