March 5, 2010
Michigan Not Chosen Amongst Finalists for Federal School $$
SENATOR THOMAS' LETTER REGARDING THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS
PURE MICHIGAN FUNDING RESTORED
Michigan Not Chosen Amongst Finalists for Federal School $$
Despite the legislation passed late last year to enhance Michigan’s application, our state was not one of the 16 finalists chosen for the federal Race to the Top funds. The state was one of 25 applicants that missed out on a share of $4.35 billion in the first round of Race to the Top education funding. Of the 16 finalists announced by the U.S. Department of Education, only about half will win grants in April. Application scores and comments will be released to all the states at that time.
Michigan sought $526 million to help implement dropout, charter school and teacher reforms enacted in December to qualify for the Obama administration's national competition. The announcement doesn't mean Michigan won't eventually get funding. A second round of applications will be accepted in June and more than half the money will be available.
States on the finalist list for the first phase of funding were Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee. Applications for the federal money were read and scored by panels of five peer reviewers. Those with scores of 400 or higher out of 500 were selected to visit Washington later this month to present their proposals.
SENATOR THOMAS' LETTER REGARDING THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS
Dear Neighbors:
Like me, you might be hearing in the media that the governor is seriously considering opening the State Fairgrounds to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Although we are still waiting on the details, I wanted to let you know that I will be watching this development closely.
I have been working with you for the past 14 years to ensure that our State Fairgrounds was properly used for the surrounding neighbors and was good for our city. That is why I worked closely with you to fight a racetrack at the Fairgrounds, and worked for over a year to make sure that we found a good neighbor to use the Fairgrounds after the Governor proposed its closure.
I would like to commend John Hertel, who is currently a Board Member at the Metroparks and was a Director at the Fairgrounds. He has been a strong advocate for the Metroparks to move to the Fairgrounds. No one knows the Fairgrounds property and how to operate a great State Fair like he does and I do not question his interest in seeing that property thrive.
Also, Detroiters have been paying taxes to the Metroparks system for decades but we have never had a Metropark in our city. It is time for our great city to have a great Metropark!
Therefore, I support the concept of turning the State Fairgrounds into a Metropark, but it must be more than just happy talk coming out of the governor’s office. Serious questions need to be answered before I will vote for any legislation or add my name as a supporter of any Fairgrounds project.
All financial questions must be answered before we can proceed. The Metroparks are funded by a property tax millage, but with property tax values declining we must know how the Metroparks plan to not only operate the property but also upgrade the facilities. I will not accept a Metropark in Detroit that is secondary to Kensington, Stony Creek, or any other Metropark. Detroiters deserve to have the best facilities that every other Metropark offers.
I also want to know whether, in order to fund this project, Detroiters and our suburban neighbors are expected to pay more in property taxes for this project to succeed. Detroiters already pay too much in property taxes and I will not support an increase in property taxes for a Metropark at the Fairgrounds and I do not think our suburban neighbors will support an increase in taxes either. Also, the state of Michigan cannot be put into a position to pay for any failures or missed deadlines by the Metroparks.
Finally, we must have firm deadlines on any and all projects, including when the Metroparks will take over the property and how long they will have a lease, when will the property be open to the public, when we should expect the Fair to open, when and which buildings will be demolished and repaired, etc.
I was strongly opposed to this governor closing the Fairgrounds. It was a slap in the face to Detroit and saves the state mere pennies a year. It is irresponsible to announce another project in Detroit without Detroiters determining its fate and having a solid short and long term plan.
I take this issue very seriously and I would like to thank everyone in all our neighborhoods who has worked to make the Fairgrounds the best it can be. I will continue to update you on the status of this important project.
PURE MICHIGAN FUNDING RESTORED
On Wednesday, the Michigan Senate approved an extra $9.5 million in General Fund money this year to keep the beleaguered Pure Michigan tourism advertising campaign going. None of the funding would go toward the state's Upper Hand business promotion campaign.
The program, which had been funded at $40 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, has a current year appropriation of $5 million. The state Treasury is directed to set aside $9.5 million in use tax proceeds and deposit them into the Pure Michigan Fund.
The Pure Michigan ad campaign was recognized as the premier state tourist promotion program in the country last year.