Many businesses agree: Mich. tax is stumbling block

The Detriot Free Press reports:

It wasn't Michigan's weather or good fishing that convinced Advanced Photonix Inc. to move 68 jobs from California and Wisconsin to Ann Arbor.

What sealed the deal last month was the state's offer to cut Advanced Photonix's Single Business Tax by $1 million over 10 years, said Chief Executive Officer Richard Kurtz. The company -- in turn -- must add 37 jobs by 2015.

Before the state offered the tax break, Kurtz told state officials that the SBT discourages new businesses because it taxes wages.

"I told them, 'That makes no sense whatsoever. Who came up with this?' "

Just think how many more private sector jobs Michigan would have if they didn't have this tax?