MSU Extension Center for Local Government Finance & Policy

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  How Much Debt Is Too Much?

  Published on November 29, 2021
  States and municipalities, most of which cannot run chronic deficits like the Federal Government due to state constitutional, statutory and charter prohibitions, must make hard choices if debt becomes burdensome.

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  A brief history of disincorporation and consolidation in Michigan

  Published on October 7, 2021
  “To be, or not to be, that is the question”. Residents of some Michigan municipalities have contemplated and others chosen to cease to exist—discorporate, and unify –consolidate into a new governmental entity. How to know when to vote this question?

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  New Federal Water Money Like the Old Money

  Published on September 20, 2021
  We may be for the first time taking real steps toward water security. The new water assistance program could provide the federal support needed to keep water taps flowing and community water providers in the black.

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  What are Michigan’s Community Water System Infrastructure Needs?

  Published on April 29, 2021
  Millions of dollars of federal funds for local governments will begin arriving next month and investing in the upkeep of our drinking water systems is encouraged.

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  State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972

  Published on April 5, 2021
  Federal revenue sharing, what’s that? Most leaders of Michigan’s local governments may not have any memory of federal revenue sharing, since it was last available to localities in 1986. Could it be reestablished? It sure can.

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  Biden Stimulus Plan to Aid Michigan Local Finances and Economies

  Published on March 11, 2021
  Michigan localities will share $4.4 billion in federal fiscal recovery aid. The stimulus package is expected to support some 43,000 Michigan jobs with annual labor earnings of nearly $3.6 million and increase gross state product by $6.7 billion.

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  A Big Picture Look at Local Governments Finances

  Published on March 9, 2021
  One year into the pandemic and the local government financial picture is still fuzzy…with 300,000 fewer jobs but property tax revenues are up over 5%. What’s not unclear is the COVID-19 relief stimulus for local government will be welcomed.

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  Federal Funds for Michigan’s Water Providers

  Published on March 1, 2021
  A new federal low-income water assistance program will be launched to help households with unaffordable water bills and water bill debt and support local water provider affordability program efforts to address chronic unaffordability.

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  A Greater Detroit

  Published on February 24, 2021
  If Ecorse, Hamtramck, and Highland Park approach the brink of insolvency in the future, the State should consider responding not by canceling local democracy, but by requiring that a vote be held on dissolution and consolidation into Detroit.

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  Imagine Michigan Household Faucets Never Running Dry

  Published on January 19, 2021
  Imagine our community water systems providing sustainable and continuous access to affordable and clean drinking water for their service area population. We will examine institutions, rules, and processes that govern community drinking water systems.