Dear Neighbor,
With all of the snow we’ve received recently, I hope you’re finding ways to stay warm and enjoy the many exciting activities a Pure Michigan winter provides. Despite the frigid temperatures, my team and I have been hard at work to address the issues facing our community, including the rising cost of basic necessities and everyday staples.
In addition to finding ways to make prescription drugs, housing, and child care more affordable, we’ve also secured historic tax cuts for seniors and working families that you may be able to take advantage of this tax season. Read on to learn more about these policies and other ways you can maximize your tax return ahead of the national filing deadline on April 15, 2025.
If you or someone you know would like to provide any feedback about what’s happening in Lansing, or needs assistance of any sort, please feel free to reach out to my office. You can email us at SenDPolehanki@senate.michigan.gov or call 517-373-7350.
Sincerely,
Dayna Polehanki
State Senator
District 5
- This tax season marks the second year where Michiganders can take advantage of policies championed by Senate Democrats that cut taxes to help folks save thousands of dollars annually.
- From utility payment assistance to household needs, Michigan 211 is a great tool for you and your loved ones to use. You can text, email or call for help. Learn more here.
Working to Keep More Money in Your Pockets this Tax Season
With rising costs making it harder for families to put food on the table and fill up their gas tank, my colleagues and I have been focused on cutting taxes and lowering costs for everyday Michiganders. Last session, we passed the Lowering MI Costs Plan — the biggest tax relief initiative Michigan has seen in decades. This plan overhauled the unfair retirement tax to help seniors save an average of $1,000 annually and provided the largest tax break for working families in the state’s history, helping them save an average of $3,150.
This tax season marks the second year Michiganders can take advantage of these policies. To learn more about how you can maximize your tax return, click here.
I remain committed to expanding on these efforts to ensure that folks who work hard can make it here in Michigan. This includes ensuring young people have affordable paths to higher education, parents can access child care and PreK, families have the resources they need to put a down payment on a new home, and people who need medication or medical care can access it without breaking the bank.
Honoring the Great Laborers of Our State on White Shirt Day
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, my colleagues and I recognized White Shirt Day, which marked the 88th anniversary of the end of the Flint sit-down strike when Michigan UAW members won the right to be recognized by General Motors.
Entire families, including men, women, and children, helped in the strike. Family members put their bodies on the line, forming a human shield around the plants to protect the strikers from violence and delivering food to the plants. They fought, and they won: higher wages, improved working conditions and better benefits — the opportunity to build a brighter future for their families. Within a year of that strike that ended in 1937, the UAW grew from 30,000 to 500,000 members strong, and autoworker wages increased by as much as 300%.
Michigan didn’t just put the world on wheels. The courageous sacrifices these auto workers made nearly nine decades years ago changed the course of the labor movement — igniting a rallying cry for millions of workers around the country, ushering in a wave of intense union activity and ultimately unleashing the power of the middle class.
On White Shirt Day and beyond, we remember and honor those trailblazers whose heroic actions paved this pathway for progress in Michigan and nationwide. We are proud that their history is our history. Lear more about Senate Democrats work to honor, support, and uplift Michigan workers here.
Coffee Hour in Canton
It was fantastic meeting so many constituents at my coffee hour in Canton! We discussed a variety of topics, including school lunch nutrition, teacher pay, escalating mobile home park lot fees, nursing staff to patient ratios, and legislative updates from 2024.
A special thank you to Commissioner Melissa Daub for joining us and contributing to these important conversations. Your participation and insights are invaluable as we work together to address these critical issues.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to engage with us!
Inkster’s State of the City Address
I had the honor of attending Inkster Mayor Byron Nolen’s State of the City Address. It was an inspiring event, highlighting both the progress of Inkster and plans to continue investing in our community.
I am proud to serve as Inkster’s State Senator and look forward to continuing our work together to make Inkster an even better place to live and thrive.
Legislative Panel with Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce
Thank you to the Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to participate in your legislative panel. It was a valuable opportunity to discuss the upcoming changes to state law regarding paid sick leave, minimum wage, and the tipped credit.
Engaging with local business leaders and community members is essential as we navigate these important legislative updates. Your insights and questions help shape our approach to these critical issues.
Tax Tips: Keep More of Your Tax Return
Tax season is here! If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get out your tax documents and file with the state and federal government before Tuesday, April 15, 2025. In addition to saving with the retirement tax repeal and the expanded tax credit for working families, here are a few other quick tips to help you maximize your return this year:
- Avoid scams: For federal returns, the IRS will only initiate contact with you through regular mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Make sure you do not share your personal tax information via phone, email, or social media. Learn more here.
- Utilize free resources: Michigan Free Tax Help connects Michiganders with free, high-quality income tax preparation assistance. Visit MichiganFreeTaxHelp.org to find local help.
- Take advantage of available deductions: You can deduct charitable contributions, property taxes, medical expenses and more from your federal 2024 taxes. Visit IRS.gov/credits-deductions for a full list.
Retro License Plates Are Back!
Thanks to outpouring advocacy from Michigan drivers and corresponding legislative efforts by Senate Democrats, additional specialty plates are now available through the Secretary of State to help add a bit of nostalgia to your vehicles.
Under legislation championed by my colleagues and I last session, the blue license plates Michigan used from 1983 until 2007, as well as the black plates issued between 1979 and 1983, are once again available to all Michigan car enthusiasts! They can be purchased for an additional fee, either when buying a vehicle through a dealership or through the Secretary of State online or at an office near you. Learn more here.
And as an added bonus, the revenue generated from the retro plates will go to the state’s transportation fund to help repair our roads. This provides drivers with a great opportunity to celebrate our unparalleled car culture while helping fix a few more potholes.
Utilize Michigan 211 to Get Connected with the Resources You Need
Michigan 211 is a toll-free service that provides residents with information. Specialists trained to assist community members will connect you with the proper resources. From utility payment assistance to household needs, 211 is a great tool for you and your loved ones to use.
Michigan 211 supports about seven regions in the state of Michigan. You can text, email or call for help. For more information, click here.