2005 Publications

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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Adequacy, Equity and Capital Spending in Michigan Schools: The Unfinished Business of Proposal A
Misc. ( May 2005 ) 74 pages

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The report, which was prepared in collaboration with the Education Policy Center at Michigan State University, concludes that unmet need for capital construction in local school districts totals approximately $8.7 billion and that it is weighted toward school districts with the lowest property tax wealth. It puts forth a series of alternatives that might be adopted to bring greater equity to the financing of school construction in Michigan.

The Financial Implications of Consolidating the City of Grand Blanc and Grand Blanc Township
Report 339 ( March 2005 ) 65 pages

The Charter Township of Grand Blanc has experienced a great deal of residential development in recent years and is likely to continue to grow for some time. In the middle of the township lies the City of Grand Blanc, a separate governmental entity with its own system of service delivery. The question for Grand Blanc residents is whether they want the township to continue to grow separate from the city, or do they want to consolidate the two entities into a single city. This analysis finds that consolidation would result in some efficiencies in individual departments, but that other departments would likely need to increase staff levels. A consolidated police force would be better suited to meet the needs of a growing community. Incorporation would allow for assumption of responsibility over roads, but would also shift the burden of paying for improvements to the new city. Access to the township tax base would allow for a tax rate reduction of about 6 mills for residents of the City of Grand Blanc. Township taxpayers would be subject to a tax rate increase of 1.5 to 2 mills.

2004 Annual Report
Misc. ( March 2005 ) 12 pages

The Michigan Certificate of Need Program,
Report 338, ( February 2005 ) 68 pages

The Certificate of Need program is the subject of a new report by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. Although CON was once encouraged and partially financed by the federal government, that changed in 1986 and fourteen states have since dropped the program. The remaining states, including Michigan, that have retained CON operate over a range of stringency in requirements and comparisons are difficult. The CRC report, The Michigan Certificate of Need Program, provides a history of the program and a detailed review of its structure and operation. It also identifies several issues related to the program and its impact.

Local Ballot Issues in the 2004 General Election,
Note 2005-01, ( February 2005 ) 4 pages

Local units of government in Michigan presented their voters with 459 issues on November 2, 2004. Almost three-quarters of the issues involved taxes. The remainder consisted of various governance issues. CRC has summarized the results of those elections.

The Financial Implications of Consolidating the City of Grand Blanc and Grand Blanc Township
Memo 1078 ( January 2005 ) 12 pages

Summarizes Report 339.

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Last Updated July 9, 2007