A few weeks ago, I asked a young woman in Leelanau County whether she and her husband planned to buy a home. She laughed: “Between interest rates and property taxes, we’ll never afford it.” When I suggested she was still young, she replied: “I’m 37. You boomers took all the money and slammed the door behind you on your way out.”
That young woman’s frustration reflects what many Michigan families feel: Homeownership—the cornerstone of the American middle class—is slipping out of reach. One major culprit is property tax. Michigan now ranks 15th in the nation in property tax burden. Every year in this state, thousands of families lose homes and businesses not to banks, but to the government, over unpaid taxes. Many of the homeowners are young couples or seniors on fixed incomes.
Supporters of high taxes argue this is the “price we pay” for great schools, safe roads, and good services, but Michiganians know better—we’re paying more and getting less.
• Schools: Michigan ranks 44th in education quality, and in the bottom five in basic literacy, despite sky-high taxes.
• Roads: A 2025 Citizens Research Council report ranked Michigan 40th nationally for road quality and bridge safety.
• Libraries & Services: Michigan ranks only 20th in library services, far below where it should be given our tax levels.
If high property taxes bought excellent services, maybe the argument would hold, but they don’t.
A Telling Comparison
Look at Georgia, a state similar to Michigan in size and population. Georgia ran its government in 2024 on $41 billion. Michigan—smaller by both measures—spent $83 billion. Even if Michigan eliminated property taxes (about $20 billion), the state would still collect over $60 billion—50% more than Georgia spends., and Georgia isn’t shortchanging its people:
• Its K-12 system ranks #14 nationally, far ahead of Michigan.
• Its higher education system ranks #2 in the nation.
• Georgia also leads in connecting schools to careers and providing education choice.
So much for the claim that without high property taxes, schools collapse. Georgia proves that smart spending beats big spending.
As for roads and the claim that Michigan pays high taxes to get good roads,
Georgia puts Michigan to shame and it is not skimping on spending either:
• Georgia’s highway system ranks 4th in the nation in overall cost-effectiveness and condition.
• The state ranks 8th in capital and bridge costs per mile and 13th in maintenance spending per mile, despite having to deal with the effects of hurricanes and tornadoes.
The Real Problem
Critics warn that AxeMITax would gut essential services. But the truth is Michigan doesn’t have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem. We already spend twice as much as Georgia and deliver worse results. That’s not a tax shortfall. That’s government waste.
A Grassroots Movement
The AxeMITax initiative is about fairness and opportunity. It’s not a partisan stunt. In fact, the state GOP hasn’t endorsed it. It’s a grassroots movement, led by everyday citizens, supported by local Republican groups like the Leelanau County GOP, and quietly drawing support across party lines. Polls show more than 80% of Michiganders want property tax relief. If politicians won’t deliver, voters will take it to the ballot. And if they succeed, Michigan families will finally be freed from paying thousands of dollars each year just for the “privilege” of keeping the homes they already own.
Time for Change
Michigan taxpayers have been told for decades to accept higher and higher property taxes in exchange for better services. The evidence is in: we’re not getting what we pay for. Young families can’t buy homes, seniors are forced out of theirs, and taxpayers are left wondering where all the money goes. It’s time to send a message. AxeMITax is about restoring hope, accountability, and fairness. It’s about ending the cycle of high taxes and low performance.
As Victor Hugo once wrote, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” For Michigan, that idea is AxeMITax.
To learn more or sign the petition, visit: https://www.axmitax.org
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