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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula August 5, 2002 Text © 2002 Funds for the Future Committee and courtesy The Nature Conservancy. Photo © 2001 Michael Jordan, courtesy of the Mott Foundation.

Why vote YES on Proposal 2

LANSING -- Michigan voters will have a chance to amend the state Constitution to improve Michigan’s state and local parks and to protect the state's lakes, streams and wildlife by voting YES on Proposal 2 -- a statewide ballot question on the August 6, 2002, Primary Election ballot.

Proposal 2 will strengthen the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF), which has allowed the State of Michigan to acquire more than 3,000 acres at the Tip of the Keweenaw -- with 3,275 more acres to come next year -- for public access, recreation and habitat protection.

This aerial view, looking northeast towards Keweenaw Point, shows the protected Lake Superior shoreline and Schlatter Lake -- part of the acreage that is now the property of the State of Michigan, thanks to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) and brokerage by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). A YES vote on Proposal 2 on the August 6 Primary ballot will increase the Natural Resources Trust Fund cap on assets from $400 million to $500 million to allow spending for state parks, local parks and outdoor recreation. (Photo © 2001 Michael Jordan, courtesy of the Mott Foundation.)

What changes will Proposal 2 make?

• Allow certain permanent and endowment funds, including Natural Resources Trust Fund, State Parks Endowment Fund and Veterans Trust Fund, to be invested as provided by law, eliminating prior restriction on investing in stocks.
• Increase Natural Resources Trust Fund cap on assets from $400 million to $500 million.
• Allow the Natural Resources Trust Fund to continue to annually expend up to 33-1/3% of Fund royalties or other revenues, up to a new asset cap of $500 million.
• Increase allowed State Parks Endowment Fund spending to include interest and earnings and up to 50% of funds received from Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Will Proposal 2 raise my taxes?

How will these various Funds be invested under the changes being made by Proposal 2?

How will Proposal 2 affect me?

Without Proposal 2, funding from the Natural Resources Trust Fund will be reduced by $15 million. That means millions less for public access, recreational projects and the purchase of environmentally sensitive lands such as the mouth of the Montreal River in Keweenaw. That's why Proposal 2 has no opposition. 

Future funding for a number of important local park projects will be jeopardized unless the voters approve the changes in Proposal 2. For example, the MNRTF has distributed more than $90 million in the tri-county area (Wayne, Oakland and Macomb) and $41 million for west Michigan (Kent, Ottawa and Allegan) for park development, urban greenways and rails-to-trails projects.

Editor's Note: See "First closing on Keweenaw land sale expected Jan. 3" (Jan. 3, 2002),  "IP/LSLC, TNC close on first stage of Keweenaw land sale" (Jan. 4, 2002), and "Michigan acquires first half of Keweenaw Tip property" (Feb. 12, 2002) to read about the Keweenaw Tip purchase of more than 6,000 acres by the State of Michigan, through the MNRTF, aided by the brokerage of The Nature Conservancy. A YES vote on Proposal 2 will strengthen the Trust Fund to allow setting aside more environmentally sensitive lands for public access, recreation and preservation.

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