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“The Citizens’ Research Council of Michigan is, in my judgment, the state’s best and most respected public policy outfit. They have provided useful and totally non-partisan information on everything from prisons to road repair for more than a century. Their founder and first director, Lent Upson, a pioneer in modern public administration, used tosay something that I think about a lot these days: “The right to criticize government is also anobligation to know what you are talking about.” Were it up to me, those words would be engraved on stone tablets and plastered on web sites everywhere.”

Jack Lessenberry

Toledo Blade

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Betsy Cushman

League of Women Voters of Dearborn -- Dearborn Heights

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Chuck Stokes

WXYZ TV Channel 7 Detroit

“The right to criticize government is also an obligation to know what you're talking about.”

Lent Upson

1st Director of Citizens Research Council

“A new report from the Citizens Research Council is getting a lot of attention. If the report doesn’t wake you up to the urgency of this moment, you should check your pulse.”

Angelique Power

Skillman Foundation

Latest Research Posts

March 25, 2025

A Data-Driven Assessment of Michigan’s Road Program

October 29, 2024

Detroit’s Use of Tax Abatements and Alternative Strategies to Improve Competitiveness

September 12, 2024

Allowing the Detroit DDA’s Captured Tax Revenues to Again Fund Government Services

August 22, 2024

State Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: How Public Policy Can Drive Economic Innovation

The Citizens Research Council was established to bring about sound governmental policy through factual research for Michigan.

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Featured Research

March 25, 2025

A Data-Driven Assessment of Michigan’s Road Program

Michigan ranks 30th among all 50 states in road funding levels by an assessment of data from 2012 to 2021 and 40th in road

Featured Research

October 29, 2024

Detroit’s Use of Tax Abatements and Alternative Strategies to Improve Competitiveness

Detroit is a frequent user of tax abatements. Between 2017 and 2023, the city facilitated 171 development projects by

Featured Research

September 12, 2024

Allowing the Detroit DDA’s Captured Tax Revenues to Again Fund Government Services

For 47 years the Detroit DDA has been actively engaged in economic development activities in the CBD. Funding for the

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Latest Blog Posts

June 17, 2024

Budget Proposals Backtrack on State’s Recent Commitment to “At-risk” Students

August 23, 2023

To Better Understand Detroit’s Post-Bankruptcy Fiscal Health, Adjust for Inflation and Population

May 11, 2023

Detroit’s Finances Would Be Affected by Even a Minor Recession

May 1, 2023

On Implementing the Promote the Vote Constitutional Amendment

March 2, 2022

If Michigan Steps Up to Address School Infrastructure Needs, it Must do so Equitably

January 4, 2022

Recent Report Shows Continued Financial Improvement for Detroit Schools

August 10, 2021

Supreme Court Decision a Blow to Taxpayers, but not Section 30 of the Headlee Amendment

August 3, 2021

Detroit’s Plan to Use Federal Relief Funds to Address Future Budget Shortfalls May Fall Short

July 8, 2021

Schools should proceed with caution in their use of federal funds

May 14, 2021

A Trip Down Memory Lane – Tax Day Edition

April 30, 2021

A Budget Fad We Hope Does Not Have Legs

January 30, 2021

Is bipartisanship the key to avoiding another annus horribilis?

May 21, 2025

The Long and Winding Road to a FY2026 State Budget

May 5, 2025

Is Michigan Getting the Most Out of Its Road Funding? A Closer Look at the Data

“The right to criticize government is also an obligation to know what you're talking about.”

Lent Upson

1st Director of Citizens Research Council

“Dear CRC, Thank you for all the fine work you do. I'm a long time reader of your analyses and am a better citizen because of it.”

George Matthews

Retired School Teacher

“We are pleased to be able to cooperate with Citizens Research Council and are grateful that we have your organization hard at work in our state.”

Betsy Cushman

League of Women Voters of Dearborn -- Dearborn Heights

Jack Lessenberry

Toledo Blade

Chuck Stokes

WXYZ TV Channel 7 Detroit

“A new report from the Citizens Research Council is getting a lot of attention. If the report doesn’t wake you up to the urgency of this moment, you should check your pulse.”

Angelique Power

Skillman Foundation

“I rely on Citizens Research Council of Michigan constantly in the work I do for a go-to source of non-partisan fact-based information. It helps me inform the questions I ask as a reporter and educate me on key policy areas that affect Michiganders.”

Clara Hendrickson

Detroit Free Press

Latest Research Posts

March 25, 2025