Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is proposing to stop the state sales tax on school supplies in an effort to help families save more money.

Whitmer wants the proposal to be included in the bipartisan education budget MI Back to School Plan that she signed in July, according to a news release provided by the Michigan government.

“With the continued rising cost of just about everything needed to supply a classroom; teachers like myself are having to resort to creating wish lists on Amazon and sharing them on social media like Tik ok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, in the hopes that some companies will help “#CLEARTHELIST,” Stephanie Klein, director of the Great Start Readiness Program and lead co-teacher in the Menominee County Intermediate School District, said in the release. “A 'teacher tax holiday' would help take a little pressure off the pocketbooks of so many educators.”

Klien added that school districts can only portion a certain amount of their budget on supplies, and the burden to buy them usually falls on the teachers.  

The proposal would help parents and teachers save on school supplies, including computers.

“As families gear up for the school year, they should be able to get what they need without spending too much money out of pocket,” Whitmer said. “That’s why I’m putting forward the MI Back to School Plan, which includes a proposal to temporarily suspend the sales tax on school supplies. Getting this done would lower costs for parents, teachers, and students right now, and ensure that they have the resources to succeed. I will work with anyone to lower costs, cut taxes, and help our kids thrive. 

"Last month, I signed a bipartisan education budget—my fourth—which made the highest state per-student funding in Michigan history. We should build on this progress as we get ready for the next school year by enacting the MI Back to School Plan.”

Alex Bohr, a fourth-grade teacher at Gull Lake Community Schools, said that she spends $500 annually on classroom-related expenses.

“On top of school supplies, many of us also buy snacks for students whose families aren’t able to send snacks from home, so the kids can have something to eat during the day outside of lunch,” Bohr said. “All of these costs accumulate and can become a substantial financial burden, both for educators and parents. Gov. Whitmer’s proposal for a school sales tax holiday will help educators and families keep a little extra money in our wallets, so we can afford other basic necessities.”