Citizens Research Council of Michigan

Analysis of Governor Whitmer’s FY2027 Executive Budget - Citizens Research Council of Michigan Several federal and state policy changes over the past year set the stage for an interesting budget cycle this year. For FY2027, GF/GP revenue is expected to down by more than $1.2 billion from the Ma...

It's not too late! If you want to listen to analysis that goes a little deeper into Governor Whitmer's last executive budget recommendation, tune in today at noon! Register below. #MichiganBudget #MichiganTaxes #FactsMatter

crcmich.org/webinars/ana...

Analysis of Governor Whitmer’s FY2027 Executive Budget - Citizens Research Council of Michigan Several federal and state policy changes over the past year set the stage for an interesting budget cycle this year. For FY2027, GF/GP revenue is expected to down by more than $1.2 billion from the Ma...

🤑 There's still time! You won't want to miss this deep dive into the Governor's Executive Budget proposal. Register here:
crcmich.org/webinars/ana...

How Michigan's New Road Package Accidentally Cut Current Year Road Funding - Citizens Research Council of Michigan Guy and Eric pick up where their conversation left off in late 2025 — at the start of fiscal year (FY) 2026 — when the Michigan Legislature passed, and Governor Whitmer signed Michigan’s 2025 transpor...

Oops! The results of doing too much, too fast? "How the 2025 Transportation Funding Package Accidentally Cut Road Funding in FY2026." Our latest #FactsMatter podcast with Guy Gordon and CRC's research associate @ericpauldennis.bsky.social.
Find the paper at crcmich.org
crcmich.org/podcast/how-...

How the 2025 Transportation Funding Package Accidentally Cut Road Funding in FY2026 - Citizens Research Council of Michigan Despite a promised $1 billion increase in road funding in FY2026, Michigan's road agencies are experiencing a temproary funding cut.

The new funding is available to road agencies on a delayed and uncertain schedule. Road agencies are now experiencing an unexpected decrease in funding that will proceed through March 2026.

crcmich.org/fy2026_road_...

Spotlight on the News: Should Michigan hold a constitutional convention? BHM and The Wright Museum On Sunday, February 15, Spotlight will interview Eric Lupher, President of the CRC of Michigan, and we'll visit with Lance Wheeler of The Wright Museum.

📃🏴󠁵󠁳󠁭󠁩󠁿ICYMI yesterday: we met with Chuck Stokes/@wxyzdetroit.bsky.social to talk about all things Michigan Constitutional Convention (Con-Con), the most important yet least understood ballot question voters will face this Nov. Less than 11 min! #Michigan #MichiganElections www.wxyz.com/news/politic...

Michigan’s School Aid/General Fund Budget “Swap” is a Two-way Street, Despite What Some May Think - Citizens Research Council of Michigan In a Nutshell Another Michigan state budget season is upon us. A perennial, and often contentious, issue has been the use of School Aid Fund (SAF) dollars to finance appropriations for Michigan’s comm...

🔁In advance of MI's FY2027 exec. budget recs being released, we released a paper on understanding the two-way funding flow between the School Aid Fund and the General Fund. There is a growing tendency to view the swap solely through the lens of SAF funding for higher ed. crcmich.org/michigans-sc...

The use of digesters is an emerging complition in the regulation of large livestock farms, which we addressed last October.

crcmich.org/cafopermitti...

Michigan Constitutional Issues - Citizens Research Council of Michigan At the November 3, 2026, general election, Proposal 2026-01 will ask voters whether a constitutional convention should be convened for the purpose of a general revision of the 1963 Michigan Constituti...

Just dropped! The 1st in a 15-paper series to inform voters ahead of the November vote on whether Michigan should hold a Constitutional Convention ("Con-Con"). Voters will decide Prop. 2026-01: whether to convene a convention to review and revise the 1963 MI Constitution. crcmich.org/publications...

Time for reform Momentum is building behind tax reform ideas in Detroit. But do they address the underlying troubles?

Time for reform
open.substack.com/pub/shdetroi...

Detroit’s Taxing Quandary Could Lead to Reforms - Citizens Research Council of Michigan In a Nutshell: Increasing Local Revenues and Revenue Diversity The City of Detroit is gaining momentum. Its appeal as a destination city is growing. It is hosting more visitors, sports and cultural ev...

We concluded (following two previous reports) that efforts to initiate two new local tax options for Detroit may not be worth the reward (especially a local sales tax), but Detroit’s tax quandary could be a catalyst for statewide municipal finance reform. #MichiganCities
crcmich.org/detroits-tax...

It might be dense, but we spill it! 😜

Michigan Matters: A new entertainment and sales tax for Detroit? Could a new entertainment tax and a new sales tax be ahead for the Motor City?

ICYMI, we sat down with @carolcain.bsky.social on @cbsdetroit.bsky.social to discuss an analysis we published for the Detroit City Council, who are looking at ways to help the city benefit from destination tourism, diversify its revenue and help reduce property taxes. www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news...

Crime in the City - Identifying Detroit’s Peer Cities - Citizens Research Council of Michigan This initial report presents a method for comparing Detroit to peer cities based on factors associated with crime, such as population, poverty, and income This method will allow for a data-informed co...

@Detroiters say public safety should be a top priority for the new Mayor, which will play a large role in the city's budget. Given this, we will be producing a multi-part, inter-city comparative research effort to examine public safety/crime in 6 peer cities. Report #1: crcmich.org/crime-in-the...

"Ironically, the warming of the arctic region might result in cold arctic air intruding farther south than has been historically typical, due to weakening of the arctic jet stream (“the polar vortex”)."

crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/202...

Hudson-Webber Gives $900K to Detroit Orgs to Strengthen Housing, Public Safety in Detroit Hudson-Webber Gives $900K to Detroit Orgs to Strengthen Housing, Public Safety in Detroit

The #Hudson-Webber Foundation is an amazing organization doing incredible things for Michigan. We are so grateful for their support of our work! #FactsMatter #MichiganFoundations #MichiganNonprofits michiganchronicle.com/hudson-webbe...

CRC Sr. Research Associate Bob Schneider provides a primer on upcoming Michigan budget deliberations...

crcmich.org/three-takeaw...

Three Takeaways from the January 2026 CREC - Citizens Research Council of Michigan In a Nutshell State economists met on January 16 to hold a Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) as required under state law to revise the revenue forecasts that will guide Governor Whitmer’s...

If you thought passing last year's budget was tough, "the conference suggests that the key challenge for budget writers during FY2027 budget deliberations will be addressing deficits, rather than allocating surpluses, as has been the case for several consecutive years."
crcmich.org/three-takeaw...

"In short, the conference suggests that the key challenge for budget writers during FY2027 budget deliberations will be addressing deficits, rather than allocating surpluses, as has been the case for several consecutive years."
#MiLeg #MiPol #FactsMatter #MichiganBudget
crcmich.org/three-takeaw...

House Republicans have moved to unilaterally cut up to $645 million from the state budget. But is that legal? A quick listen on reforming MI's Work Project approval process with crcmich.org, Cheyna (@cheyna-roth.bsky.social) and Zach (@zachgorchow.bsky.social).

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Time to Reform the Process for Work Project Approval - Citizens Research Council of Michigan On December 10, the House Appropriations Committee set off a shockwave by disapproving $645 million in work project spending authority. An Attorney General opinion issued on February 7 concluded the p...

"Regardless of your opinion on the specifics of the House’s action, one thing remains clear: the AG opinion effectively strips away all direct legislative oversight over the designation of work projects. ..."

crcmich.org/time-to-refo...

“If you want to find waste, fraud, and abuse, you should not ignore road construction."

~ CRC Research Associate, Eric Paul Dennis

A Reality Check on Michigan's Autonomous Vehicle Future - Citizens Research Council of Michigan As the autonomous vehicle hype bubble has popped, Michigan needs to refocus on practical problems.

From the archives: In November 2022, the Research Council assessed Michigan's investments in connected/autonomous vehicle technology.

crcmich.org/a-reality-ch...

The Missed Opportunity of the Act 51 Study Committee - Citizens Research Council of Michigan A 1998 effort to improve Michigan's roads program was subsumed by entrenched interests, preventing meaningful reform.

In the year 2000, it was understood that Michigan's road program was in need of fundamental reform. But attempts at meaningful reform were thwarted. This new CRC research brief recounts the missed opportunity of the Act 51 Transportation Funding Study Committee.

crcmich.org/missed-oppor...

States are Forming Public Health Alliances; Michigan Should Consider Joining  - Citizens Research Council of Michigan Much attention has focused on changes to vaccine recommendations and controversial messaging from the federal government about Tylenol use during pregnancy causing autism. But, a big part of the story...

With federal guidance on health policy becoming questionable, many states are forming alternative coalitions for information sharing and policy guidance.

crcmich.org/states-are-f...

Independence you can trust. No lies. No partisan spin. Trusted research that is dependent on donor support. Please donate today: crcmich.org/end-of-year-appeal. #PutFactsFirst #YearEndGiving

Uncertainty Defines New Michigan Transportation Funding Package - Citizens Research Council of Michigan Guy Gordon and infrastructure specialist Eric Paul Dennis discuss Dennis' recent comprehensive paper on the 2025 road funding package passed in Michigan. While increased funding, if the estimated reve...

The original research and summary: crcmich.org/podcast/unce...

#Factsmatter podcast drop! Host Guy Gordon and an infrastructure specialist discuss Dennis’ recent paper, taking a hard look at what was in the 2025 MI road funding package.
Support trusted, transparent, non-partisan facts: crcmich.org/end-of-year-...
Full Podcast: crcmich.org/podcast/unce...

Missed #GivingTuesday? You can still put facts first. Donate to the annual appeal → crcmich.org/end-of-year-appeal #YearEndGiving #PutFactsFirst #FactsMatter

We hope you can attend, Wednesday at 11 am. Register here:⏬
crcmich.org/webinars/sdo...
💉Michigan's health outcomes lag behind those of other Midwest states and even nationally and globally. Data shows that improving Michigan's health will require addressing all policy areas. #Michigan #health #sdoh

We hope you can attend, Wednesday at 11 am. Register here:⏬
crcmich.org/webinars/sdo...
💉Michigan's health outcomes lag behind those of other Midwest states and even nationally and globally. Data shows that improving Michigan's health will require addressing all policy areas. #Michigan #health #sdoh