To increase the state income tax from 3.9 percent to 4.35 percent, effective Oct. 1, 2007. The bill will take an additional $765 million, and is part of a deal to avoid state spending cuts that includes a $750 million service tax (House Bill 5198, later replaced by a 21.99 percent Michigan Business Tax surcharge), plus modest school employee pension reform (Senate Bills 546 and 547), a bill to make it easier for school districts to seek competitive bids on employee health insurance (Senate Bill 418), legislation limiting “double dipping” by retired school employees (House Bill 4800) and a repeal a prohibition on contracting out mental health services in state prisons (Senate Bill 622). Note: the Lieutenant Governor (Democrat John Cherry) presides over the Senate and cast the 20th and deciding vote.