Public Finance Issues
Catalog of Local Government Services in Michigan
Memo 1079 ( September 2005 ) 8 pages
The Catalog of Local Government Services is the result of a survey sent to the governments of 670 counties, cities, villages, and counties in 24 Michigan counties. The surveys asked which services are provided to residents of each community, and if the services are provided, whether they are provided by the units themselves, through cooperative arrangements, by another unit, or by contract.
Responses were received from about 70 percent of the units contacted. The data show that Michigan cities, villages, and townships cannot be characterized in simple terms. The menu of services provided by different units is broad and the methods used to provide those services equally diverse. The Citizens Research Council plans to use the Catalog of Local Government Services for future studies to expand on opportunities for efficiencies. The information is made available at this time for others to use the data for their own needs.
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Michigan's Deteriorating Cash Position
Note 2007-02 ( May 2007 ) 8 pages
Actions to maintain balance in the State general and school aid funds since Fiscal Year 2001 have relied heavily on the depletion of reserves and the use of one-time accounting maneuvers, which have served to erode the State cash position, by $4.2 billion. Actions to balance the FY07 and FY08 budgets will be subject to the realities of cash constraints brought about by failure to resolve the underlying structural deficit.
Avoiding Local Government Financial Crisis: The Role of State Oversight
Report 329, ( July 2000 ) 56 pages
Over the years, the State of Michigan has enacted a number of laws to prevent or react to local government fiscal distress. Despite these laws, the state has remained relatively inactive in the oversight of local government finances, and a few units of local government have experienced fiscal distress. Through proactive monitoring of local government finances, the state could identify local units with management policies, financial practices, or debt management practices that allow financial conditions to erode. By continuously working with local governments, the state could assist in changing the course of those unit’s finances. Based on the experiences of other states, the likely result of such actions is tax savings for residents of those units likely to get into fiscal distress, improved management practices by officials of those units, and reduced interest costs for all Michigan residents.
This report considers the proper state response to local government fiscal distress, examines the policies of other states, and makes eight recommendations for how the state might alter its current practices to better deal with fiscal crises.
Avoiding Local Government Financial Crisis: The Role of State Oversight
Memo 1053, (July 2000 ) 8 pages
Summary of Report 329
Wayne County Charter Issues ... Debt Concepts and Provisions for Michigan Charter County Government
Report 272, ( April 81 ) 12 pages
The purpose of this paper is to review concepts related to authorizing debt provisions under the Constitution of the State of Michigan and to define the issues involved in developing debt provisions for the Wayne County Charter. This paper will also analyze debt provision alternatives by comparing the concepts of such provisions for the Wayne County Charter. This paper does not seek to analyze statutory provisions pursuant to which county debt may currently be incurred or to suggest any revisions to such provisions which might be necessary to desirable in the implementation of any of the debt authorizing concepts discussed herein.
Michigan and Local Debt
Detroit Debt
CC 983, Detroit School Ballot Issues: 1 -- Proposed $160 million Unlimited Tax General Obligation Bonds 2 -- 5 Mill Increase in Extra-Voted Property Tax for 5-Year Period ( August 89 ) 6 pages
State Ballot Issues on the August Primary Ballot,
CRC Memo 1062, ( June 2002 ) 8 pages
Proposal 02-01: Compensation of Certain Elected State Officials discusses a proposed Constitutional amendment that would alter the process for accepting recommendations of the State Officers Compensation Commission.
Proposal 02-02: Changing Limits in Natural Resources Trust Fund and State Parks Endowment Fund; Investing Trust and Endowment Funds in Stocks discusses a proposed Constitutional amendment that would increase the overall cap on assets in the Natural Resources Trust Fund; permit one-third of revenues to the trust fund to be appropriated until the fund reaches $500 million in assets; permit $6.5 million to be appropriated from the Genevieve Gillette State Parks Endowment Fund; and remove the prohibition against ownership of stock by state permenant and endowment funds.
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Last Updated July 25, 2006
