Case Name: GOVERNOR v. STATE TREASURER
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1972-12-29
Citations: 389 Mich. 1
Docket Number: No. 1; Docket No. 53,809
Parties: GOVERNOR v STATE TREASURER
Judges: T. M. Kavanagh, C. J., and Adams and Swain-son, JJ., concurred with Williams, J.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 389
Pages: 1–68

Head Matter:
GOVERNOR v STATE TREASURER
Opinion op the Court
1. Schools and School Districts — Public Schools — Constitutional Law — Legislature.
Section of an article of the Michigan Constitution providing that "[t]he legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law” is a very simple and direct mandate to finance schools without any room or necessity for speculation as to whether "the wealth of the school district” affects "the quality of a child’s education” (Const 1963, art 8. § 2).
References for Points in Headnotes
[1] 47 Am Jur, Schools §§ 3, 7.
[2] 47 Am Jur, Schools §§ 83, 89.
[3, 20] 47 Am Jur, Schools §§ 2, 7, 8.
[4,16, 26, 29] 59 Am Jur 2d, Parent and Child §§ 19.
[5, 8, 9, 15,17, 23, 24, 33, 34] 16 Am Jur 2d, Constitutional Law § 485 et seq.
[5, 6, 8] 47 Am Jur, Schools § 76 et seq.
[5-8, 12, 14, 30, 33] Validity of basing public school financing system on local property taxes. 41 ALR3d 1220.
[10,11,13, 23] 47 Am Jur, Schools §§ 89, 90.
[12-14, 30] 47 Am Jur, Schools § 10.
[18] 20 Am Jur 2d,,Courts § 76.
[19, 28] 47 Am Jur, Schools §§ 6-8.
[21] 16 Am Jur 2d, Constitutional Law § 112.
[22] No reference.
[25] 47 Am Jur, Schools §§ 79, 80, 82, 89, et seq.
[27] 47 Am Jur, Schools §§ 1-3.
[30, 31] 16 Am Jur 2d, Constitutional Law § 250. 47 Am Jur, Schools § 6.
[32] 16 Am Jur 2d, Constitutional Law § 3.
[35] 47 Am Jur, Schools.§§ 7, 8.
2. Schools and School Districts — Public Schools — School Financing — Constitutional Law.
The state clearly has responsibility for financing public school education in Michigan; a section of an article of the state constitution shows that Michigan through its Legislature has responsibility to "maintain and support a system of free elementary and secondary schools” (Const 1963, art 8, § 2).
3. Schools and School Districts — Public Schools — State Schools —State Agencies.
Public schools throughout Michigan are state schools and agencies of the state.
4. Schools and School Districts — Public Education — Public Schools — School Financing — States.
Public education is a state matter and the financing of public schools is a state responsibility.
5. Schools and School Districts — Taxation—Tax Bases.
There is an inherent inequality in the school district property tax bases which creates unequal support for the education of Michigan children.
6. Schools and School Districts — State School Aid Formula — Tax Bases.
The state school aid formula does not compensate for the recognized basic inequality inherent in the differences in the property tax bases of the 624 Michigan school districts.
7. Schools and School Districts — Taxation—State Aid.
The combination of local school property taxes and state aid in fact results in inequality between a substantial majority of the school districts ranging from significant to inordinate.
8. Schools and School Districts — School Aid Formula — Tax Bases.
The inequalities between school districts in their ability to finance an education for their school children are sufficiently common and severe to conclude that even with the equalizing efforts of the Michigan school aid formula, the inherent differences in the property tax bases of the school districts prevent equal resources for the education of Michigan school children in a substantial number of school districts.
9. Constitutional Law — Equal Protection — Classification—Statutes — Compelling State Interest.
It is elementary that the law of equal protection involves two different tests depending upon the interest concerned; where the interest involved is an ordinary one, a court only inquires whether there is a "rational” relationship between the classification established by the statute under scrutiny and a legitimate state objective; where a fundamental interest is affected or a classification is inherently suspect, then it must appear that the classification under scrutiny is necessary for the achievement of a "compelling state interest”, furthermore, it must appear that the classification is specifically fashioned to further the purpose it is designed to accomplish and the ultimate test is that the state must prove there is no less onerous alternative by which its objective may be achieved where a fundamental interest is affected or a classification is inherently suspect.
10. Constitutional Law — Classification—Schools and School Districts.
In light of the people’s concern and direct provision for education in the Michigan Constitution, the Michigan Supreme Court is compelled to recognize education as a fundamental interest under the Michigan Constitution requiring close scrutiny of legislative classifications concerning the distribution of educational resources.
11. Constitutional Law — Schools and School Districts.
The right to an education in Michigan is a specifically enumerated constitutional mandate; education is sui generis and the Michigan Supreme Court has recognized its uniqueness.
12. Constitutional Law — Classification—Wealth.
Classification on the basis of wealth is considered "suspect” especially when applied to fundamental interests.
13. Schools and School Districts — Taxation—Classification.
The state aid act as well as the local school district property taxes are based on the classification of the state equalized valuation per pupil in the school districts; this is therefore an educational classification solely on the basis of wealth per educational unit (pupils) and puts the classification in the suspect category requiring the stricter standard of scrutiny (1970 PA 100).
14. Constitutional Law — Classification—Schools and School Districts — State Equalized Value.
The state public school financing system fails to pass the test of "rationality” where the stricter "compelling state interest” test must be applied because of the existence of a "fundamental interest and a suspect classification”; this means that the substantial inequalities in school district revenues derived from a composite system relying heavily on state equalized values per pupil is not justified by some rational relationship between the purpose of state maintenance and support of public schools and the fact that a school district happens to have more or less state equalized value per pupil within its boundaries.
15. Schools and School Districts — Constitutional Law — Equal Protection — Compelling State Interest.
The Michigan public school financing system denies equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Michigan Constitution when measured by both the "compelling state interest” and the "rational” classification tests (Const 1963, art 1, § 2).
16. Parties — Schools and School Districts — Parents of School Children — Declaratory Judgment — Constitutional Law — State Treasurer.
Intervening tax-paying parents of public school children in disadvantaged school districts representing themselves and as representatives of the class of tax-paying parents of school children in disadvantaged school districts are proper plaintiffs in an action for a declaratory judgment that the then existing public school financing system is unconstitutional, as a more equalized system would favorably affect them; the named school districts being among those with higher state equalized valuation and advantaged by the present inequalities would be unfavorably affected by an equalized system as compared with the present system and the State Treasurer’s concern with the distribution of state funds makes him a logical party.
17. Constitutional Law — Equal Protection — Schools and School Districts — Taxation.
Michigan public school financing system, consisting of local, general ad valorem property taxes and state school aid appropriations, by relying on the wealth of local school districts as measured by the state equalized valuation of taxable property per student which results in substantial inequality of maintenance and support of the elementary and secondary schools, denies the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by a section of an article of the Michigan Constitution (Const 1963, art 1, §2).
Dissenting Opinion
T. E. Brennan, J.
18. Appeal and Error — Dissenting Opinion — Courts—Constitutional Law.
The function of a dissenting opinion is to express the writer’s reasons for not joining in the majority opinion; Michigan’s constitution requires Justices of the Supreme Court to give reasons for their dissenting vote.
19. Schools and School Districts.
The Michigan Legislature does maintain and support a system of schools; the school system of Michigan is, and has always been, a system of school districts, with schools established and operating in each district.
20. Schools and School Districts — State Agency — Municipal Corporations.
The school district is a separate state agency, not under the control of the local municipality.
21. Constitutional Law — Moot Case.
It is against every precept of good constitutional law for a supreme court to decide a constitutional question upon a moot
Dissenting Opinion
Black and T. E. Brennan, JJ.
22. Schools and School Districts — School Financing — Constitutional Law.
The Constitution of1963 worked a radical change in the theory of school financing; for the Srst time, all constitutional acknowledgment of the Federal endowment for schools was eliminated and no reference was made either to the "perpetual fund” or to the later primary school interest fund.
23. Schools and School Districts — School Funds — Constitutional Law — Equal Protection.
The state purpose in the allotment of certain funds, which are distributed to the educationally needy as determined by test scores through the State Board of Education, is clear and can hardly be considered a deprivation of equal protection of the laws (MCLA 888.613).
24. Schools and School Districts — School Funds — Constitutional Law — Equal Protection.
Other so-called categorical funds are included in the state school aid laws to assist in payment for transportation, vocational programs and the like and these appropriations are directed toward specific legislative objectives; they operate equally with respect to all districts falling within the measure of their standards, and do not deny equal protection of the laws.
25. Schools and School Districts — School Financing — Taxation— Millage — State Equalized Value.
Almost half of the cost of public school education in Michigan is derived from local ad valorem taxes, customarily expressed in terms of mills, a mill is 1/10 of 1% of the state equalized valuation of real and personal property; millage emanates from two sources, "non-voted” millage is annually allocated by the county allocation board or permanently allocated by vote of the people within constitutional limits of 15 and 18 mills■ respectively, "voted millage” is millage over and above the constitutional limitation and is levied from time to time by vote ol taxpaying and non-taxpaying electors in the school district; the number of dollars per student resulting from the levy of local ad valorem taxes depends on the rate of tax (millage) and the state equalized value of taxable property in the district.
26. Infants — Parental Rights — Parental Responsibilities— Schools and School Districts — States.
A child is not the creature of the state; a child’s first allegiance is to his family and parental rights and responsibilities in the education of children come before the state’s.
27. Schools and School Districts — Public Education.
Public education is not government education; the two are as distinct as public opinion and government policy.
28. Schools and School Districts — Public Schools — States.
Public schools are surely subject to reasonable regulation by the state just as they are entitled to support and encouragement from the state; but they do not spring from the state laws nor ■ exist to serve state policies and purposes.
29. Schools and School Districts — Public Schools — Parental Responsibility.
Public schools are established by the people in their local commu nities; they exist primarily to fulfil the parental responsibility of educating children; and it is for the people of each district to write their own definition of quality education through the implementation of such programs, the encouragement of such skills, and the exposure to such values as they deem appropriate and needful; through locally elected school officials, locally adopted taxation and locally determined school policies, the people educate their children in public schools.
30. Schools and School Districts — Public Schools.
Quality education is not a function of the wealth of a community but is a function of achieving the goals and fulñlling the educational aspirations of the people who live in the school district, and who in a collective sense, own and operate the public school.
31. Schools and School Districts — Taxation—States.
Support of local schools by local taxation is a principle qualitatively different from the bare concept of local control; it is the difference between delegated, agency decision-making and proprietary interest and authority; the right of the people in a school district to operate local public schools for the purpose of fulñlling locally defined goals is the moral consequence of their own millage elections and it is not a privilege extended by sufferance of the state or delegated by reason of administrative expediency perceived by state officials.
32. Constitutional Law — Supreme Court.
The duty of Justices of the. Michigan Supreme Court requires obedience to the mandates of the United States Supreme Court in all matters of interpretation and application of Federal constitutional standards.
33. Schools and School Districts — Taxation.
The Michigan Supreme Court may not assume a direct relationship between "quality” of education and tax base.
34. Schools and School Districts — School Financing — Constitutional Law — Equal Protection.
The Michigan public school ñnancing system has not been demonstrated to constitute a denial of equal protection of the laws under the state or Federal Constitutions.
Opinion Concurring in Dismissal
T. G. Kavanagh, J.
35. Schools and School Districts — Constitutional Law — Legislature.
The Legislature is not constitutionally forbidden to ordain dispa rate educational opportunities among the state established districts.
Certified questions from Ingham, Sam Street Hughes, J.
Submitted June 6, 1972.
(No. 1
June Term 1972,
Docket No. 53,809.)
Decided December 29, 1972.
Rehearing granted January 30, 1973. Opinions vacated December 14, 1973,
see 390 Mich
Complaint by Governor and Attorney General against State Treasurer, Bloomfield Hills School District, Dearborn City School District, and Grosse Pointe School District for a declaratory judgment that the then existing system of financing the operation of school districts is unconstitutional. Request by Governor William G. Milliken that certain questions in the case be certified to the Supreme Court as permitted by GCR 1963, 797. Leo G. Steers and others intervened as plaintiffs. Request granted and questions certified by the trial judge to the Supreme Court.
Question answered favorably to plaintiffs.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Robert A. Derengoski, Solicitor General, and Eugene Krasicky, Gerald F Young, George L. McCargar, and Patrick Kowaleski, Assistants Attorney General, for plaintiffs.
Walter Shapero and Elwood Hain, for Leo G. Steers, and others, intervening plaintiffs.
Thomas C. Walsh, in propria persona, for intervenor Thomas C. Walsh.
John H King, in propria persona, for intervener John H. King.
Russell A. Seárl and Robert R. Roesch, Assist ants Attorney General, for defendant State Treasurer.
Dickinson, Wright, McKean & Cudlip (by Charles F Clippert and Charles T. Harris), for defendant Bloomfield Hills School District.
Butzel, Long, Gust, Klein & Van Zile (by William M. Saxon, Robert M. Vercruysse, and John B. Weaver), for defendant Dearborn City School District.
Hill, Lewis, Adams, Goodrich & Tait (by Robert B. Webster), for defendant Grosse Pointe Public School System.
Amicus Curiae:
Michael M. Glusac, Corporation Counsel, and Robert Reese, Assistant Corporation Counsel, for City of Detroit.
Ross, Bruff & Henriksen, for Professional Personnel of Van Dyke.
Foster, Lindemer, Swift & Collins (by James A. White and Clifford D. Weiler), for Michigan Education Association.

Opinion:
Williams, J.
This case will be considered in this opinion in eight parts. I, the dispositive issue. II, state control of public schools in Michigan and state responsibility for the public schools. Ill, the inherent inequality in school district property tax bases. IV, the school aid formula does not equalize property tax inequality. V, the inequality in the Michigan public school financing system denies equal protection of the laws. VI, limits of decision. VII, defendants' arguments. VIII, order.
I
DISPOSITIVE ISSUE
This case concerns the constitutionality of the Michigan public school financing system.
The nature of this action is a complaint for declaratory judgment brought October 15, 1971 in the Ingham County Circuit Court by the Attorney General and the Governor to test the constitutionality of the Michigan public school financing system on the grounds of violation of the equal protection clauses of the Michigan and United States Constitutions. The State Treasurer and the Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn and Grosse Pointe school districts, all with high state equalized valuation per pupil, were named defendants.
The Governor having on December 3, 1971 addressed an Executive Message to the Supreme Court adverting to the above case or controversy as having controlling questions of public law of such public moment as to require early determination, this Court ordered the Ingham Court to certify such questions and take appropriate proofs, permitting the intervention and representation of school children in alleged economically disadvantaged districts.
Subsequently, certain tax-paying parents of public school children in disadvantaged school districts intervened as plaintiffs and as representatives of the class of tax-paying parents of school children in disadvantaged school districts.
On May 8, 1972 the circuit court .filed its findings of fact.
This case is unique in this country in two respects. First, as one defendant's brief points out, "[t]he Michigan Supreme Court, however, unlike all the courts in the foregoing cases [some finding constitutionality and some unconstitutionality] is presented with unrebutted evidence which destroys plaintiffs' assumption that the quality of a child's education is a function of the wealth of the school district in which he resides." Second, as will be immediately made clear, the basis for decision in this case need not be and is not the broad philosophical questions posited in the certified questions argued by both plaintiffs and defendants here and the dispositive issue generally speaking in the other cases in this area throughout the country and referred to in the defendant's brief above.
The reason this Court need not consider the broad philosophical question posited in the certified questions is that the excellent briefs of all parties and the oral arguments make clear that the dispositive question in the case at bar depends upon the much narrower and objective question posed by the specific language of the Michigan Constitution which controls the Michigan public school financing system. Art 8, § 2 of the Michigan Constitution reads:
"The legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law."
This is a very simple and direct mandate to finance schools without any room or necessity for speculation as to whether "the wealth of the school district" affects "the quality of a child's education". The only real question this provision leaves open is whether or not the Legislature's action maintains and supports free public schools equally or, if not equally, with valid classifications.
As a consequence, the issue in this case is posited as follows. The language of the certified question is used for almost the whole predicate but new language is substituted for the verb and object. The new language for convenience is put in capitals and the old language not used is included in brackets afterwards. This is the issue considered by this Court and is a correction of the certified question:
"Does the Michigan public school financing system, consisting of local, general ad valorem property taxes and state school aid appropriations, by relying on the wealth of local school districts as measured by the state equalized valuation of taxable property per student which results in substantial INEQUALITY OF MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, DENY the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by Article I, Section 2 of the Michigan Constitution? [disparities of revenue produced per student, invidiously discriminate against and deny substantially equal educational opportunity to students in violation of]."
The facts in this case are not in contention and most of them are jointly stipulated to. As the quoted certified question indicates and no one denies, the Michigan public school financing system is a combined system of property taxes raised by school districts and a grant of state aid. It is incontrovertible that the differences in property tax bases create revenue inequalities among the school districts. The state aid formula from year to year has sought to equalize these inequalities and has reduced them. Substantial inequalities still remain, however. None of this is denied.
II
STATE CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY
The state clearly has responsibility for financing public school education in Michigan. The 1963 Michigan Constitution, art 8, § 2 reads:
"The legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law."
Const 1963, art 8, §2 shows that the State of Michigan through its Legislature has responsibility to "maintain and support a system of free elementary and secondary schools". This Court recognized that responsibility in Lansing School Dist v State Board of Education, 367 Mich 591, 595 (1962) in the following words:
"Control of our public school system is a State matter delegated and lodged in the State legislature by the Constitution. The policy of the State has been to retain control of its school system, to be administered throughout the State under State laws by local State agencies organized with plenary powers to carry out the delegated functions given it by the legislature."
Furthermore, public schools throughout the state are state schools and agencies of the state. We stated in MacQueen v City Commission of City of Port Huron, 194 Mich 328, 336 (1916):
"Fundamentally, provision for and control of our public school system is a State matter, delegated to and lodged in the State legislature by the Constitution in a separate article entirely distinct from that relating to local government. The general policy of the State has been to retain control of its school system, to be administered throughout the State under State laws by local State agencies organized with plenary powers indepen dent of the local government with which, by location and geographical boundaries, they are necessarily closely associated and to a greater or lesser extent authorized to co-operate. Education belongs to the State. It is no part of the local self-government inherent in the township or municipality except so far as the legislature may choose to make it such."
Of like import is Child Welfare Society of Flint v Kennedy School Dist, 220 Mich 290, 296 (1922) where this Court stated:
"The legislature has entire control over the schools of the State subject only to the provisions above referred to [Le. state constitutional provisions]. The division of the territory of the State into districts, the conduct of the school, the qualifications of teachers, the subjects to be taught therein are all within its control."
And in Collins v Detroit, 195 Mich 333, 335-336 (1917) we emphatically stated:
"We have repeatedly held that education in this State is not a matter of local concern, but belongs to the State at large."
In short, public education is a state matter and the financing of public schools is a state responsibility.
HI
INHERENT INEQUALITY IN SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX BASES
There is an inherent inequality in the school district property tax bases which creates unequal support for the education of Michigan children. The inequality has been recognized in legislation for years. Just a few paragraphs will substantiate these conclusions.
A
The trial court made the following finding:
"SEV [State Equalized Value] per child is the measure of the wealth of the school district. It ranges from a low of $2,165.00 of taxable property in the poorest district in Michigan to $405,747.00 in the wealthiest district." Circuit Court Findings.of Fact and Certification, II, C, 1 (d).
If the average millage levy of 25 mills in the 1970-1971 school year (Finding of Fact, II, B, 5) is applied to the respective SEV's of the poorest and the wealthiest school districts, as indicated above, the result is $54.13 per pupil for the poorest and about $10,125 for the richest. This means that with the school district property tax alone the richest district has almost 200 times the ability of the poorest school district to support its school children. This certainly is extreme inequality.
B
Subsection A indicates the extreme inequality between the poorest and richest school districts as far as the property tax base is concerned, but inequality cuts deep. Below is a table developed from the data in the Findings of Fact and Certification, III and Plaintiffs' Exhibit 10a:
Property
# School SEV %of Average Tax Revenues
Districts Per Pupil Pupils Millage Per Pupil
48 $32,000 up 3.1% 25 $800
32 8,000 down 2.1% 25
99 24.000 up 12.7% 25
102 10.000 down 9.2% 25
196 48.1% 25
194 12.000 down 19.1% 25 $300
Review of this table reveals that among approximately one-eighth of Michigan School districts, the 48 richest districts had at least 4 times or more the property tax ability to support their students as 32 of the poorest districts. Such review further reveals that among approximately one-third of Michigan school districts, 99 richer districts had at least 2-1/4 times the property tax power as 102 poorer districts. Such review finally reveals that among approximately two-thirds of Michigan school districts serving about two-thirds of Michigan school children the property tax power favors the richer half of the districts by a ratio of at least three to two.
In short, whether the inequality of the property tax base is considered between the two extremes of rich and poor school districts or between the great bulk of the school districts, there exists a more than substantial inequality.
C
The existence of this inequality is officially recognized by Michigan government, because the school aid formula contains a provision to try to compensate for this inequality.
IV
STATE SCHOOL AID DOES NOT EQUALIZE PROPERTY TAX INEQUALITY
The state school aid formula does not compensate for the recognized basic inequality inherent in the differences in the property tax bases of the 624 Michigan school districts.
A — AUTHORITIES
To begin with, the circuit court in its Findings of Fact and Certification stated (I, C, 1 [d]):
"The deductible millage formula does in fact go part way in equalizing the school fund available to Michigan youngsters by dispersing more funds to the 'poor' districts and relatively less to the 'wealthy' districts." (Emphasis added.)
The trial court in this finding clearly indicates that the state aid formula does not go the whole way in equalizing the school fund available to Michigan youngstérs.
A similar conclusion was reached in the authoritative "Thomas Report." (Findings of Fact and Certification, V, 1.) The Thomas Report stated:
" 'It is easy to document financial inequalities among school districts in Michigan. In general, districts with a relatively high state equalized value per pupil tend to spend more money on the education of each child and have a lower tax rate.' " Quoted in Findings of Fact and Certification, V, 7.
B — SPECIAL EXAMPLES OF INEQUALITY
A table included in the Circuit Court Findings of Fact and Certification, IV, 2 permits drawing one's own conclusions. The pertinent part of that section reads as follows:
"2. For the 1970-71 fiscal year, among 527 K-12 school districts, the high, median and low school districts, ranked by current operating expenditures per pupil were as follows:
Current Operating
_Expenditure per pupil SEV Per Pupil
Oak Park $1,427.00 $36,907.00
Littlefield $ 710.00 $12,963.00
Inrun $ 541.00 $ 8,428.00"
The first observation one must make is that the current operating expenditure per pupil in the high district, Oak Park, is twice as high as that for the median district, Littlefield, and not quite three times as high as that for the low district, Ionia.
The second observation is that, while the table shows no millage rate for the three districts, if the low district had levied 50 more mills which it obviously could not legally have done and stayed within the 50-mill limitation of Const 1963, art 9, §6, it could only have added $421.40 to its $541 current operating expenditure per pupil. In other words through the exercise of local option the school district electors of Ionia could in no legal way give their school children the same educational resources as enjoyed by the school children of the Oak Park District. Indeed it would cost Ionia more than 20 mills to catch up to the median Littlefield, and that would tend to bring it near its millage limit.
While it is astounding enough that the low district Ionia cannot by taxing itself to its legal limit ever invest in its children the same resources as Oak Park, the high district, it is altogether astonishing that Littlefield, the median district, also cannot by taxing itself to. its legal limit equal the Oak Park investment in its children.
Perhaps of more direct interest to this case is that if defendant Dearborn school district's neighbors, Dearborn Heights and Inkster doubled their millage which would put them above the legal 50-mill limitation, they would both still be $300 short of Dearborn's existing combined revenue per pupil levying less than 26 mills. Likewise if Grosse Pointe's neighbor the Wayne Community School District raised its 35.89 operating millage rate by 15 mills, which would put it over the 50-mill limitation, it could not equal Grosse Pointe's combined revenue per pupil levying less than 32 mills. The same process can be applied to Madison Heights vis-a-vis Bloomfield Hills with the same result.
C — OVERALL INEQUALITIES
Only about one-third of the state's school districts receive nearly equal total revenues from combined state and local school property taxes. The other two-thirds receive unequal total revenues ranging from a disparity of 6.5% to 1425.0%. This is what the data introduced in evidence shows.
The conclusion is inescapable that the combination of local school property taxes and state aid in fact results in inequality between a substantial majority of the school districts ranging from significant to inordinate. While the worst extremes in total revenues to school districts affect only about 5% of the school population, up to 67% of the school population is adversely affected in a significant manner.
The following table constructed from the data in Circuit Court Findings of Fact and Certification, III is the principal basis for the preceding and subsequent observations:
Property Tax Combined
School SEV Operating Revenues State Aid Revenue
Districts per pupil Millage per pupil per pupil per pupil
48 $32,000 up 25 $800 $ 82.50 $882.50
32 8,000 down 25 200 463.50 663.50
-219.00
99 24,000 up 25 600 194.50 794.50
102 10,000 down 25 250 423.50 673.50
-$121.00
196 18,000 up 25 450 278.50 728.50
194 12,000 down 25 300 383.50 683.50
-$ 45.00
It should be emphasized that the above table does not indicate maximum possible disparity, nor does it indicate even average disparity between school districts. Rather, it indicates minimum dis parity between the categories of school districts represented.
If in the top two lines of the table, for example, instead of showing the minimum disparity, that is, the difference at $32,000 and $8,000 SEV per pupil; the maximum disparity were shown, that would contrast $405,747 per pupil and $8,000 per pupil with the difference in combined revenues being over $9,000 rather than $219.
Again comparing the top two lines, for example, and instead of showing the minimum disparity, if the average disparity were shown the following table constructed from Trial Exhibit J-A would tell the story:
Average Average Combined
# School SEV per Operating Property State Aid Rev per
Districts_pupil_Millage Rev per pupil per pupil_pupil
48 $44,719 25 $1,197.00 $ 0 $1,197.00
28 6,468 25 161.70 494.14 655.84
$-541.16
The second and third categories likewise compose only the bottom of the top and the top of the bottom. Since the second and third categories include all the school districts in the preceding categories the range is very extensive.
Thus, considering the table and data in the Circuit Court Findings of Fact and Certification as indicated in the table first constructed above it must be remembered that we are considering minimum disparity. This table indicates on its face that in 80 school districts, even the highest of the 32 poorer ones would require a minimum $219, or roughly 1/3 more revenue to equal the combined property tax revenues and state school aid of the richer 48; that in 201 school districts even the highest of the 102 "poorer" ones would require a minimum $121, or roughly 18% more, to equal the combined tax revenues and aid of the richer 99, and that in 390 school districts even the highest of the poorer half would require a minimum $45 or about 6.5% more to equal the tax and aid received by the richer half.
By computation it can be further derived that the lower 32 school districts in the aforementioned 80 could not by adding 27 mills of taxes and exceeding their 50-mill limitation equal the combined tax and aid receipts of the top 48.
Using the actual average figures computed from Exhibit J-A, in order for the combined property tax and school aid revenue of the 28 poorest school districts to be equal to the combined revenues of the richest districts taxing themselves at 25 mills, the "poor" districts would have to tax themselves at about 109 mills, which happens to be more than double the constitutional limit of what they can tax themselves under any circumstances.
Likewise in the next group of 390 it would require the "richest" of the lower group of 194 to levy a minimum of 3.75 additional mills to equal the combined tax and aid receipt of the "poorer" of the upper 196.
It has been suggested that these wide differences are rationally attributable to differences in the cost of education and the nature of education in different regions of the state. Nothing could be further from the truth. If there were a rational relationship between the combined state and local financing formulas and the costs of education in different parts of the state then you would expect to see regional relationships of near equality where costs are nearly equal. Other parts of this opinion show that the argument is specious. See for example the great disparities between Dear-born and Dearborn Heights discussed supra at footnote 5 and accompanying text. But the difference between Dearborn and Dearborn Heights is not an isolated regional difference. Exhibit J-A shows that in 1970-1971 there were 37 school districts in Wayne County. Fifteen of these school districts had SEV's per student below $18,000 per student. Eight of these school districts had SEV's per student of $32,000 or better including Dear-born City, Hamtramck, River Rouge, Fairlane Schools, Ecorse, Harper Woods, Woodhaven and Riverview. Five school districts had SEV's per student between $24,000 and $32,000 including Grosse Pointe, Highland Park, Plymouth, South Redford and Trenton. Nine others had SEV's per student between $18,000 and $24,000 including Detroit City School District, Melvindale, Livonia, Romulus, Wyandotte, Gibraltar, Grosse lie, North-ville and Van Burén.
Similar disparities exist in virtually every county throughout the state as revealed by Plaintiff's Exhibit J-A.
In conclusion, the inequalities between school districts in their ability to finance an education for their school children are sufficiently common and severe to conclude that even with the equalizing efforts of the Michigan school aid formula, the inherent differences in the property tax bases of the school districts prevent equal resources for the education of Michigan school children in a substantial number of school districts.
V
"EQUAL PROTECTION"
The heart of this case is to confront the law of "equal protection" with the reality of the inequality inherent in the Michigan public school financing system.
It is elementary that the law of equal protection involves two different tests depending upon the interest concerned. Where the interest involved is an ordinary one, a court only inquires whether there is a "rational" relationship between the classification established by the statute under scrutiny and a legitimate state objective. Where a fundamental interest is affected or a classification is inherently suspect, then it must appear that the classification under scrutiny is necessary for the achievement of a "compelling state interest". Furthermore, it must appear that the classification is specifically fashioned to further the purpose it is designed to accomplish. See, e.g., Wilkins v Ann Arbor City Clerk, 385 Mich 670, 679-680 (1971); Comment, Educational Financing, Equal Protection of the Laws, and the Supreme Court, 70 Mich L Rev 1324, 1330 (1972). And very importantly there is an ultimate test. The state must prove there is no less onerous alternative by which its objective may be achieved. Wilkins, 685 ff.
A — EDUCATION IN MICHIGAN A FUNDAMENTAL INTEREST
The fundamental interest of the people in Michigan in education is expressed in our history and in our constitutions, as my Brother T. E. Brennan has so excellently described. The 1963 Michigan Constitution establishes the people's fundamental interest in education in a number of ways, but significantly in that it devotes an entire article to education, Article 8.
Art 8, § 1 proclaims Michigan's dedication to education by reiterating the words used in the great Northwest Ordinance of 1787:
"Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."
The high value placed on this section is evident from the constitutional debates. 1 Official Record, Constitutional Convention 1961, pp 197-207; 762-763; 1188-1199; 2 Official Record, Constitutional Convention 1961, pp 2554-2560.
The people of Michigan backed up this ringing proclamation of faith and purpose by a specific and pragmatic directive to the Legislature. Const 1963, art 8, § 2 reads in part:
"The legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law."
The people then in Const 1963, art 8, § 3 set up a State Board of Education to exercise "[[leadership and supervision over all public education." The history of these constitutional provisions is well discussed by my Brother T. E. Brennan. While it may be true that the specific obligation of the compact regarding a designated area of á township is only an "honorary" obligation, it does not follow that the obligation to provide for a system of schools is "honorary". But whether the obligation is obligatory or honorary is not the point here. The mere inclusion of provisions to ensure the carrying on of public education suggests the importance of education in Michigan. Other factors suggesting the importance of education are the compulsory attendance laws, in effect since at least 1895 PA 95, criminal penalties for parents who fail to send their children to school (MCLA 340.740; MSA 15.3740), and children who repeatedly absent themselves from school are subject to the jurisdiction of the probate court and themselves face a possible loss of liberty (MCLA 712A.1 etseq.;MSA 27.3178 [598.1] etseq.).
In the drafting of our Constitution of 1963 as well as previous constitutions, we have treated education as a key attribute of governmental responsibility. The majority of articles in the constitution are devoted to the operation of general government. Art 8, "Education" along with art 2, on elections, are two of the few articles dealing with a single subject of government-citizen relationships. This Court has recognized the right to vote as a fundamental interest. Wilkins, supra. In light of the people's concern and direct provision for education in the constitution, this Court is compelled to recognize education as a fundamental interest under the Michigan Constitution requiring close scrutiny of legislative classifications concerning the distribution of educational resources.
This Court strongly aligns itself with the eloquent statement of the United States Supreme Court on the basic importance of education as expressed in Brown v Board of Education, 347 US 483, 493; 74 S Ct 686; 98 L Ed 873 (1954):
"Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms."
In passing, for those who fear recognizing education as a fundamental interest because it can open a Pandora's box of other functions as fundamental interests, there are at least two important observations. The right to an education in Michigan is a specifically enumerated constitutional mandate. Second, education is sui genéris and this Court has recognized its uniqueness. In Lansing School Dist v State Board of Education, 367 Mich 591, 595 (1962) we said:
"Unlike the delegation of other powers by the legislature to local governments, education is not inherently part of local self-government of a municipality except insofar as the legislature may choose to make it such. Control of our public school system is a State matter delegated and lodged in the State legislature by the Constitution."
B — WEALTH, A SUSPECT CLASSIFICATION INVOLVED
Classification on the basis of wealth is considered "suspect" especially when applied to fundamental interests. Harper v Virginia Board of Elections, 383 US 663, 668, 670; 86 S Ct 1079; 16 L Ed 2d 169 (1966); McDonald v Board of Election Com missioners of Chicago, 394 US 802, 807; 89 S Ct 1404; 22 L Ed 2d 739 (1969); Serrano v Priest, 5 Cal 3d 584, 602-605; 487 P2d 1241; 96 Cal Rptr 601 (1971); Van Dusartz v Hatfield, 334 F Supp 870 (D Minn, 1971).
1970 PA 100, § 8a(2) provides for basic allotment as follows:
"(2) The sum allocated to each school district shall be , computed from the following table:
"State equalized
valuation behind Gross Deductible
each child Allowance Millage
$530.50 14 a) $15,500.00 or more
$623.50 20" b) Less than $15,500.00
Section 8b also speaks in terms of state equalized valuation and millage.
The above references to 1970 PA 100 indicate clearly that the state aid act as well as the local school district property taxes are based on the classification of the state equalized valuation per pupil in the school districts. This is therefore an educational classification solely on the basis of wealth per educational unit (pupils) and puts the classification in the suspect category requiring the stricter standard of scrutiny.
We are not concerned here with the distribution of resources on the basis of need or other classifications as provided in other parts of the school aid act. If the §8(a) formula cannot stand by itself because of an impermissible classification then it is no better because some other funds are distributed by a permissible classification.
C — "COMPELLING STATE INTEREST"
There can be no "compelling state interest" claimed for the classifications based on wealth resulting in the inequalities connected with the distribution of public school funds pursuant to the mandate of Const 1963, art 8, § 2 other than local control.
Local control is the interest asserted by defendants as justification for the district wealth classification under either constitutional test:
"The present Michigan school financing scheme has a rational basis in that it assures.that citizens in local districts will have the opportunity to help design their children's education."
"[E]ven if this Court adopts the more stringent compelling interest test, this Court should find that there is a compelling governmental interest in allowing a parent to have an effective voice in designing his child's education. Under either test the present financing system which assures local control of schools ought to be held to be constitutional." Brief of Defendant, Dearborn City School District, 38-39.
"Local control" must be further clarified. The only elements of "local control" asserted in justification is the authority to approve additional millage. Such other elements of "local control" granted by the Legislature derive from the right to elect school board members who in turn exercise control subject to the "leadership and supervision" of the State Board of Education. Const 1963, art 8, §3.
Assuming for the moment that the Michigan public school finance system as a whole is properly fashioned to further the general purpose it was designed to accomplish, there remains the question of whether the state interest in local control may be served by a less onerous alternative than measuring the amount of local control in terms of raising local revenues based on the value of prop erty per student in a school district. The burden is here upon those defending the classification once its unequal results are shown. There was no such effort made, but it is clear from the admitted progressively more "equalized" public school finance laws year by year (including those after 1970 PA 100), that greater equality can be achieved. Greater equality is clearly potentially available on the one hand through perfecting the deductible millage formula and on the other hand through the reformation of the taxing and expenditure boundaries of school districts. There may be other ways as well.
D — RATIONAL TEST
While the stricter "compelling state interest" test must be applied because of the existence of a "fundamental interest and a suspect classification", the state public school financing system also fails to pass the test of "rationality". This means that the substantial inequalities in school district revenues derived from a composite system relying heavily on state equalized values per pupil is not justified by some rational relationship between the purpose of state maintenance and support of public schools and the fact that a school district happens to have more or less state equalized value per pupil within its boundaries.
This Court sees no logical connection between the asserted justification of "local control" and the amount of school funds the state distributes to or permits to be expended in a school district based solely on the fortuitous circumstance that the district has more or less valuable properties per pupil within its borders. While not directly in point, it is interesting to note again that defendants themselves make a similar argument on the basis of the scientific evidence produced in this case that there is no validity in the "assumption that the quality of a child's education is a function of the wealth of the school district in which he resides." If there is no relationship how can there be a claimed rational basis?
Going outside of the internal logic of a reasonable connection between the state distribution of funds to schools and the value of property in school districts, the argument is made that such a connection is justified because the right of the local school district to levy increased millage gives it the power to control the character of its schools' education. There is an anomaly in this justification because of defendants' position, that there is no proven connection between higher school revenues and improved education. Nonetheless the argument of "local control" needs to be considered. It is an inviting argument on the surface but it becomes illusory when examined in depth.
In the first place such local control as there is over education in the school district exists because of the right to elect local school boards which control local school policy subject to the "leadership and supervision" of the State Board of Education. These rights are completely unrelated to the financing scheme at issue here.
Second, recognizing that by "local control" may be meant the option to levy additional taxes for specially desired educational services, the validity of that argument must be met head-on. That just is not what the option is.
To begin with the school property tax is not a pleasure horse to ride into greener pastures, it is the work horse to cover the everyday rocky road of school finance. School district property taxes are the largest element in the combined state public school financing system. Circuit Court Findings of Fact and Certification.
In addition this so-called option is not really an option at all for the poorer (per pupil) school districts. Because of the 50-mill tax limitation of Const 1963, art 9, §6, and the low revenue per added mill levied, the greener pastures of the richer school districts can remain an ever receding mirage for the school district with low state equalized value per pupil.
To sum it all up there is no internal rationality between state distribution of funds to school districts on the basis of SEV per pupil and grossly disparate state equalized value per pupil of school districts. Furthermore, the seemingly plausible argument of local control to permit school districts to opt for the greener pastures of education is really a heavy yoke for all school districts to bear and adds up to the major share of the state's burden to "maintain and support" free public schools. For the poorer school districts it is a hoax that they can follow the richer school districts into the green pastures. All in all, this Court finds no rationality justifying the substantial inequalities found.
E — DENIAL OF EQUAL PROTECTION
This opinion for the reasons stated in A, B, C and D holds that in certain particulars, the Michigan public school financing system denies equal protection of the laws guaranteed by art 1, § 2 of the Michigan Constitution when measured by both the "compelling state interest" and the "rational" classification tests.
VI
LIMITS OF DECISION
The state public school financing system is obviously a very complicated one. While the certified questions to this Court are very broad, no one should imagine that the questions can be presumed to call all provisions of the several statutes included in the financing system into question.
The ruling in this opinion, for example, should not be misinterpreted to require absolute equality in the distribution of state educational resources in all cases with no recognition of reasonable classifications.
Furthermore, this opinion does not relate to "local control". This opinion relates only to the state's obligation "to maintain and support" public schools ñnancially under Const 1963, art 8, § 2.
As already indicated "local control" is largely exercised through the local school board, which sets local school policy and hires and supervises local school personnel. The people of the local school district in turn exercise their control through electing and watching over the local school board. The people also elect the State Board of Education that under Const 1963, art 8, § 3 is granted "leadership and supervision" of the public schools. It is common knowledge that the State Board of Education has traditionally left the local school boards with wide discretion to manage their own affairs. In any event, none of the matters relating to the exercise of local control is in question in this opinion.
VII
DEFENDANTS' ARGUMENTS
Defendants raised four points that should be considered:
A. There is no actual case or controversy.
B. The Supreme Court of the United States has spoken and that controls this case.
C. Knowledge about educational finance and its inter-relationships with the forces at work within the educational system has not advanced to the point that constitutional determinations are proper.
D. The present Michigan public school finance system achieves adequate equality and is rational —education is not a fundamental interest and the rational basis, not the compelling state interest test should be used.
A — CASE OR CONTROVERSY
Without addressing the contentions that the Attorney General and Governor are not empowered to maintain this suit on behalf of the people, the intervening tax-paying parents of public school children in disadvantaged school districts representing themselves and as representatives of the class of tax-paying parents of school children in disadvantaged school districts are proper plaintiffs, as a more equalized system would favorably affect them. Bond v Ann Arbor School Dist, 383 Mich 693 (1970). The named school districts being among those with higher state equalized valuation and advantaged by the present inequalities would be unfavorably affected by an equalized system as compared with the present system. The State Treasurer's concern with the distribution of state funds makes him a logical party.
B — UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT
Defendants urge that this case is controlled by two Federal three-judge cases affirmed by the United States Supreme Court without opinion. McInnis v Shapiro, 293 F Supp 327 (ND Ill, 1968), aff'd sub nom McInnis v Ogilvie, 394 US 322; 89 S Ct 1197; 22 L Ed 2d 308 (1969); Burruss v Wilkerson, 310 F Supp 572 (WD Va, 1969), aff'd 397 US 44; 90 S Ct 812; 25 L Ed 2d 37 (1970).
Leaving aside the precedential authority of a United States Supreme Court case in that form, it is to be noted that that Court has assumed jurisdiction in a similar and subsequent case, Rodriguez v San Antonio Independent School Dist, 337 F Supp 280 (WD Tex, 1971), appeal docketed 40 LW 3513 (US April 25, 1972) No. 71-1332.
Mclnnis and Burruss are distinguishable from the case at bar in any event. In neither Mclnnis nor Burruss is there an indication that the school system as in Michigan is a state controlled system. In neither case is there a constitutional provision that the Legislature shall "maintain and support" a free public school system. The Illinois Constitution requires the Legislature to "provide a thorough and efficient system of free schools" and the Virginia Constitution requires the Legislature to "establish and maintain an efficient system of free schools." In Mclnnis the Court decided that equal protection does not require public school expenditures to "be made only on the basis of pupils' educational needs," a question neither argued nor forming a basis of decision here. In Burruss the plaintiffs complained about "substantial disparaties in the educational opportunities," "educational needs" and differences in costs, none of which appear in the issue in this case as amended.
C — INSUFFICIENT DATA TO THE EDUCATIONAL FINANCE & PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT
In the very excellent briefs of defendants they persuasively produced data from the Michigan Department of Education's Educational Assessment Program relative to the lack of direct relationship of school district wealth to educational achievement. As indicated at the outset, this opinion concurs in that finding. Because of that finding and the fact that the constitutional situation made the original certified question too broad, the statement of the issue was changed to meet the reality of the law and the facts. As a consequence, this argument of defendants is no longer apropos.
D — PRESENT PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM "EQUAL" & "RATIONAL"
This point, of course, is the major issue addressed in the body of the opinion which reaches a different conclusion.
VIII
In conclusion, the answer to the certified question as amended:
"Does the Michigan public school financing system, consisting of local, general ad valorem property taxes and state school aid appropriations, by relying on the wealth of local school districts as measured by the state equalized valuation of taxable property per student which results in substantial inequality of maintenance and support of the elementary and secondary schools, deny the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by Article I, Section 2 of the Michigan Constitution?"
is "Yes." The Michigan public school financing system in the way it responds to the Michigan Constitution of 1963, art 8, § 2 mandate to "maintain and support" the Michigan public school sys tem denies equal protection of the laws guaranteed by art 1, §2 of the Michigan Constitution. Since this interpretation of art 8, § 2 and art 1, § 2 of the Michigan Constitution is dispositive of this case, the related Federal question is not considered.
Because these are class actions, because of the great impact on school operations, because of the long lead time in tax and allocation functions and because of the complicated structure of school financing, the formulation of an order in these cases presents problems of considerable complexity.
We have now held that the basic allocation of funds provided for in the public school financing system as it existed at the commencement of this suit denies the equal protection of the laws. However, since that time a wholly new and different allocation formula is on the books, 1972 PA 258. Whether the public school financing system with this as a component still denies equal protection of the laws has not been and is not before us.
While there is no fair or effective way of testing and enforcing our decision with respect to the present school district taxes just levied on the school aid formula already authorized, this Court will stand ready upon adoption of a new school aid formula and before levy of school taxes to entertain, if that is in order, a petition to test the new combined public school financing system, and, if appropriate, fashion suitable orders.
T. M. Kavanagh, C. J., and Adams and Swain-son, JJ., concurred with Williams, J.
T. E. Brennan, J. (addendum). Since the opinion which follows carries only two signatures, it constitutes a minority opinion. It is appended purely for the information of the profession and the public.
Unfortunately, my opinion was not written as a dissenting opinion. The function of a dissenting opinion is to express the writer's reasons for not joining in the majority opinion. Our constitution requires Justices of this Court to give reasons for their dissenting vote.
This cause was argued in our Court on June 6, 1972. By process of blind rotation, I was assigned to prepare an opinion for the Court.
I did so with reasonable dispatch. My opinion was circulated to the other members of the Court on July 27, 1972.
The opinion of Justice Thomas G. Kavanagh, concurring in dismissal, was served on November 22, 1972.
It was not until December 12, 1972, just two weeks ago, that Justice G. Mennen Williams served the first draft of his opinion on the members of the Court.
That opinion came to us in "discussion draft" form. Only one meeting of the Court remained before year's end — December 21. The "Discussion Draft" was not eligible for decision on that date.
On December 26, I was advised by the Chief Justice that four members of the Court were prepared to sign and publish the Williams "Discussion Draft" as the final opinion of the Court.
All of which leaves very little time for detailed analysis or criticism of what will become the majority opinion.
But I am told that speed is now essential. Time is of the essence. The same Justices who purposefully permitted this case to hang fire for five months with my completed opinion, unanswered, on their desks, have now decided that time is of the essence.
It is, of course, true that one member of their majority is leaving in a few days. That could account for the hurry.
Nonetheless, they have the votes. In this Supreme Court, four votes seems to be the name of the game.
So the long awaited opinion in the school case comes down, and I must perforce give my reasons for dissenting as succinctly as possible.
The majority opinion attempts to leap from the general proposition that the Legislature has the duty to maintain and support a system of schools, to the specific proposition that the Legislature has a duty to maintain and support the schools themselves.
The Legislature does maintain and support a system of schools. That system is a system of local schools, operated by local school districts.
The opinion of Justice Cooley in Stuart v Kalamazoo School Dist, 30 Mich 69 (1874) contains a detailed and illuminating perspective on Michigan educational history and policy. It traces the creation of common schools in the state to the territorial days, and makes abundantly clear that the school system of Michigan is, and has always been, a system of school districts, with schools established and operating in each district
This was and is the system which our forebears intended:
"|T|o fit the children of the poor as well as the rich for the highest spheres of activity and influence." Stuart v Kalamazoo School Dist, supra, p 81.
The majority opinion's quote from Lansing School Dist v State Board of Education, 367 Mich 591, 595 (1962) is lifted out of context.
The full paragraph reads as follows:
"Unlike the delegation of other powers by the legislature to local governments, education is not inherently a part of the local self-government of a municipality except insofar as the legislature may choose to make it such. Control of our public school system is a State matter delegated and lodged in the State legislature by the Constitution. The policy of the State has been to retain control of its school system, to be administered throughout the State under State laws by local State agencies organized with plenary powers to carry out the delegated functions given it by the legislature."
In full context, it is apparent that the Court is talking about the distinction between school districts and other municipal corporations, not the distinction between local school districts and the state itself.
MacQueen v City Commission of City of Port Huron, 194 Mich 328, 336 (1916) is of similar* import. There the City of Port Huron was held not to have the power to issue its own bonds for school construction.
It is made clear that the school district is a separate state agency, not under the control of the local municipality.
"The general school laws were carefully planned and enacted to guard that distinction; provision was made for organization of the common school districts, with officers elected at school meetings by electors with defined qualifications, and who as a school board were given large plenary powers and control of school matters, practically independent from the local government of municipalities in which the schools were situated."
The majority opinion is not good law.
It is not even law at all.
It is a political position paper, written and timed to encourage action by the state Legislature through the threat of future court intervention.
' The majority concede that the question presented is moot. It is against every precept of good constitutional law for a supreme court to decide a constitutional question upon a moot case.
The majority concede that they are not now ordering anyone to do anything.
But this Court graciously offers to entertain a new test of whatever school aid formula the Legislature may adopt in the upcoming session!
It took us five months to decide this case. On that kind of a record, the offer of another lawsuit is hardly generous.
Even worse than the Court's blatant interference with the executive and legislative branches of government is the inept, confusing, and ambiguous nature of its interference.
The Court suggests changing school district boundaries, for example. Even if it were possible to draw districts with equal S.E.V. per pupil — a task to boggle the electronic brain of the best computer —would we not then face an annual redistricting to reflect new stores and homes and factories and changes in pupil enrollment?
Consider another suggestion. Reduce the ratio of reliance on property tax.
Almost the whole majority opinion is devoted to belaboring the obvious fact that different school districts have different tax bases behind each pupil.
It then concludes with the novel axiom that whatever is unequal is unconstitutional.
If that be so, then how is it cured by reducing the ratio of inequality?
Consider the fuzziness of this pronouncement:
"[E]qual protection may be effectuated by statewide distribution of all public school funds on an appropriate basis."
And what, pray tell, is appropriate?
The conclusion is inescapable that when this Court says "appropriate", it means "judicially declared to be appropriate".
How long will the people permit such judicial meddling in the affairs of the state?
How long will the Legislature tolerate such pompous interference with their duties?
And when—
When, in the name of all that is sacred in the administration of justice will the members of this Court turn a deaf ear to the siren call of executive and legislative politics, and come home to the dignity of judicial scholarships, judicial decisions, and judicial restraint?
The "foregoing cases" included all the leading cases on both sides of the constitutional question such as McInnis v Shapiro, 293 F Supp 327 (ND Ill, 1968), aff'd sub nom McInnis v Ogilvie, 394 US 322; 89 S Ct 1197; 22 L Ed 2d 308 (1969) (for constitutionality) and Serrano v Priest, 5 Cal 3d 584; 487 P2d 1241; 96 Cal Rptr 601 (1971) (against constitutionality).
There has never been any doubt in this state that education is a state responsibility. Michigan's four Constitutions clearly establish this fact. The Constitution of 1835 in Article 10, § 3, provided, in part:
"The legislature shall provide for a system of common schools
The Constitution of 1850, Article 13, § 4, provided, in part:
"The legislature shall provide for and establish a system of primary schools ." Section 1 of the same Article provided, « thg superintendent of public instruction shall have the general supervision of public instruction ."
In interpereting the above education provisions of the Constitution of 1850, the Michigan Supreme Court stated,
"The school district is a State agency. Moreover, it is of legislative creation." Attorney General v Lowrey, 131 Mich 639, 644 (1902).
Again, interpreting the Constitution of 1850, the Supreme Court of Michigan in Attorney General v Detroit Board of Education, 154 Mich 584, 590 (1908), adopted lower court language which read:
" 'Education in Michigan belongs to the State. It is no part of the local self-government inherent in the township or municipality, ex cept so far as the legislature may choose to make it such. The Constitution has turned the whole subject over to the legislature.' "
The Constitution of 1908 in Article 11, § 2, provided that the Superintendent of Public Instruction "shall have general supervision of public instruction in the state." Article 11, § 9, provided, in part as follows:
"The legislature shall continue a system of primary schools, whereby every school district in the state shall provide for the education of pupils without charge for tuition ."
This provision was construed in Child Welfare Society of Flint, MacQueen and Collins, supra. For similar interpretations of this provision and pronouncements on this state function generally, see also Attorney General v Thompson, 168 Mich 511 (1912); Van Fleet v Oltman, 244 Mich 241 (1928); Public Schools of Battle Creek v Kennedy, 245 Mich 585 (1929); In re School Dist No 6, Paris and Wyoming Twps, 284 Mich 132 (1938); Detroit Board of Education v Superintendent of Public Instruction, 319 Mich 436 (1947); Ira School Dist No 1 Fractional v Chesterfield School Dist No 2 Fractional, 340 Mich 678 (1954); Jones v Grand Ledge Public Schools, 349 Mich 1 (1957); Imlay Twp School Dist v State Board of Education, 359 Mich 478 (1960).
The Constitution of 1963, the present Constitution of the State of Michigan, in Article 8 § 2, provides, in part, as follows:
"The legislature shall maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law."
This Court construed that section to mean:
"It is the responsibility of the State board of education to supervise the system of free public schools set up by the legislature and, as a part of that responsibility, to promulgate regulations specifying the number of hours necessary to constitute a school day for elementary school students as well as for other classifications or groupings of students, to determine the curricula and, in general, to exercise leadership and supervision over the public school system." Welling v Livonia Board of Education, 382 Mich 620, 624 (1969).
As stated by Justice Adams dissenting in Advisory Opinion re Constitutionality of PA 1970, No 100,384 Mich 82,106 (1970):
"Free public education for all is a responsibility of the state. It is state business."
See also OAG, 1968-1964, No 4,376, p 484 (October 16,1964).
This exact question was recently decided adverse to the defendant school districts by the Sixth Circuit in Bradley v Milliken, 468 F2d 902 (CA 6, 1972) which went into great detail to show numerous examples of state control over local public education in Michigan.
Findings of Fact and Certification, n, C, I (d):
"(d) The formula for 1970-71 is as follows:
GROSS DEDUCTIBLE
SEV BEHIND EACH CHILD ALLOWANCE MILLAGE
(a) $15,500.00 or more $530.50 14 mills
(b) Less than $15,500.00 $623.50 20 mills
The net per pupil State Aid payment to each district is calculated by subtracting from the gross allowance an amount found by multiplying the deductible millage factor by that District's SEV per child."
J. Thomas, School Finance and Educational Opportunity in Michigan.
SEV Local State Total St.
School Revenue Grant Revenue
District Millage per pupil per pupil per pupil
Dearborn $43,019 25.90 1219.38 106.43 1325.81
Dearborn Hts 8,200 27.90 275.64 474.69 750.33
Inkster 8,140 25.90 219.21 526.36 745.57
Source Plaintiffs' Exhibit 49.
Local State Total St.
School Revenue Grant Revenue
District SEV Millage per pupil per pupil per pupil
Grosse Pte. $30,744 31.30 1,042.32 151.36 1193.68
Wayne Comm. 13,064. 35.89 503.74 401.46 905.20
Source Plaintiffs' Exhibit 49.
Local State Total St.
School Revenue Grant Revenue
District SEV Millage per pupil per pupil_per pupil
Bloomfield Hills $27,429 31.63 959.85 238.75 1198.60
Madison Heights 10,224 31.63 358.19 445.91 804.10
Source Plaintiffs* Exhibit 49.
The state aid per pupil listed above in the recomputed table from Exhibit J-A understates the aid given to the "high" SEV districts because the aid is computed here at the average SEV per pupil of $44,719 which produces zero state aid for everyone. In fact, many districts receive at least some state aid which, when spread over the class of students would produce additional disparity. The figures are. not the average state aid per pupil but the state aid per pupil considering all pupils as having the same average SEV per pupil.
Average Property State Combined
# School SEV Tax Revenues Aid Revenue
Districts per pupil Millage per pupil per pupil per pupil
48 $44,719 25 $1,197.00 $0(seefn8) ' $1,197.00
28 6,468 109 705.01 $494.14 1,199.15
Quotation is from a defendant's brief and repeated from p 11. See also footnote 1.