"The right to criticize government is also an obligation to know what you are talking about."

-Lent Upson, first director of Citizens Research Council

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January 23, 2026

Crime in the City: Identifying Detroit's Peer Cities

Detroit is entering a new era with Mayor Mary Sheffield, who took office on January 1, 2026. The Sheffield Administration will set a new direction for the City of Detroit and, hopefully, build on the successes of the prior administration, including 12 consecutive balanced budgets since exiting bankruptcy in 2014, strong financial reserves, declines in violent crime, and thousands of demolitions targeting blight across the city.

Detroit residents have identified public safety as a top priority for the new Mayor. Public safety also plays a large role in the city’s general operating budget. Given its importance to residents and city finances, the Research Council is engaged in a multi-part, inter-city comparative research effort to examine public safety and crime. This first report uses a data-informed approach to establish Detroit’s peer cities for comparisons.

Detroit Crime Peer Cities

IN A NUTSHELL

-- Detroit residents have identified public safety as a top priority for the new Mayor. Public safety also plays a large role in the city’s general operating budget. Given its importance to residents and city finances, the Research Council is engaged in a multi-part, inter-city comparative research effort to examine public safety and crime. This first report uses a data-informed approach to establish Detroit’s peer cities for comparisons.

-- The Research Council selected peer cities based on objective criteria that influence crime in urban areas, including large population size, low median household income, prevalent poverty, and low employment. Detroit’s six peer cities for comparison on crime trends are Milwaukee, Newark, Buffalo, Rochester, Toledo, and Cleveland.

-- These peer cities will be used in future analyses of Detroit trends, such as types of crime, approaches to combat crime, and public safety budgets. The intent of this research effort is to yield new insights into crime and public safety in the city, while providing future public and local policy discussions with data to inform decision-making around this very important topic.

Council Brief

Evaluating a Local-Option Sales Tax Policy for Detroit

Council Report

IN A NUTSHELL

-- Michigan’s local governments rely primarily on property taxes to fund general public services. This heavy reliance on property taxes makes it difficult for areas with weak tax bases, such as Detroit, to generate revenue.

-- Authorizing a local sales tax in Michigan will require amending the state Constitution, adopting state statutes authorizing local sales and use taxes, the local governing body to enact an ordinance, and voter approval of a new tax.

-- Estimating the revenue potential of a one percent local sales and use tax in Detroit is challenging. We estimate that a 1% sales tax in Detroit would yield about $72 million annually.

Reform the Process for Work Project Approval

Council Brief

IN A NUTSHELL

-- 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 January 7 concluded the provisions in state law that gave the committee its authority to unilaterally disapprove the work projects was unconstitutional, restoring the funding but also effectively stripping the state legislature of any direct oversight over the designation of work projects.

-- Legislators on both sides of the aisle should be concerned about that loss of oversight, and the legislature should immediately begin considering law changes to address the situation as all sides await to hear from the courts on the issue.