Blog

In a nutshell Detroit Public Schools Community District proposed budget for 2018-19 is balanced and grows year-end fund balance Student enrollment is held constant after enrollment gains in current-year from closure of 11 Education Achievement Authority s...

In a nutshell Because of Michigan’s harsh winter and historical under-funding, roads across the state are crumbling before our eyes. Next week Governor Snyder will sign a bill to send an additional $175 million in one-time funds to state and local roads...

In a nutshell: Slow growth is the new normal Stronger economy = more sales tax revenue = more money for schools Some fresh cash for road repairs, but at the General Fund’s expense Governor Rick Snyder officially kicked off the state budget process b...

In a nutshell: Federal tax reform expands 529 college savings plans to include private K-12 tuition Michigan’s state constitution prohibits public aid to private schools Michigan families will not receive state tax breaks for saving for private K-12...

While enrollment growth in Michigan’s public charter schools has leveled off in recent years, updated estimates for the current school year show that total charter school enrollment in the state will experience its first decline since charters were auth...

Economic cycles have unpredictable timing, but their inevitability is anything but. We do not know when it will occur, but we can say with certainty that the economy will eventually take a downturn. And when it does, Michigan’s state budget is not ready...

Note: This commentary ran in the May 31, 2017, edition of the Detroit Free Press, opinion section. School may be out for summer soon, but for Detroit’s new superintendent the school year starts now. Nikolai Vitti just began his tenure as superintendent ...

While the average pay for teachers in Michigan has declined for several years, using a ratio of teacher pay relative to personal income to standardize across states shows that Michigan teachers are the highest paid in the nation in relative terms. Recent ...

Among other important roles, a constitution establishes the branches of government, grants them powers, and places restrictions on them.  Many restrictions are often rooted in past experiences, some from which negative results ensued.  Certain provision...

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan is committed to the simple belief that better information leads to better government.  Unfortunately, a new state law will limit the amount and type of information about local ballot questions that government off...