#FactsMatter, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan podcast

All large cities use municipal bonds to fund capital improvements such as construction of roads, bridges, schools, highways, water and sewer systems and for other purposes. This blog provides a comparative analysis of Detroit’s debt to that of some of its peer cities. It compares Detroit against similar cities’ bond ratings and creditworthiness as a way to understand debt sizing relative to a muni...

Michigan is in danger of squandering a historical opportunity to leverage a windfall of transportation funding. The current distribution formula determined by Act 51 of 1951 is not only unrepresentative of current needs, but the entire legal framework has become inscrutable. Act 51 and the myriad of associated codes must be repealed and replaced with a contemporary approach to make sustainable imp...

Research Director Craig Thiel talks about how Michigan Schools will receive a combined $6 billion in federal COVID relief through The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) once the latest round of funding is released to the state's 830+ traditional public and charter public school districts next month.

Research Associate Tim Michling talks about how Michigan has fallen short on providing quality and equity in mental health care access and what legislatures in Lansing can do to turn that stigma around.

Research Director Craig Thiel explains his findings on the growing budget with Michigan schools.

President Eric Lupher provided testimony before the Michigan State Senate some changes that can be implemented to strengthen Legislative Oversight in Michigan.

Senior Research Associate Bob Schneider gives an overview of the bigger picture of the Michigan State Revenue Budget for the 2023 Fiscal Year.

CRC Research Associate Jill Roof discusses the Federal Infrastructure Act and how it affects public transportation in Michigan.

CRC Research Associate, Esmat Ishag-Osman explains Detroit's Bonded Debt and Municipal Bonds.

Craig Thiel discusses the financial improvement of DPSCD.

Citizens Research Council of Michigan Detroit Bureau Research Associate Esmat Ishag-Osman discusses and explains each of the three ballot proposals facing City of Detroit voters this November.

Jill Roof, Research Associate for Local Affairs, discusses the new report from the Research Council exploring the impacts of limitations on municipal taxes, including the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A - as well a exploring what the world would look like if neither existed

Citizens Research Council of Michigan Senior Research Associate Bob Schneider and and Council President Eric Lupher discuss the state budget surplus and the decisions in front of the state legislature for the next fiscal year.

Citizens Research Council Research Associate Tim Michling discusses the recently-released report on the Youth Mental Health Crisis in Michigan. Then Detroit Bureau Research Associate Esmat Ishag-Osman provides an update on the status of the Detroit Charter Commission.

Citizens Research Council of Michigan President Eric Lupher discusses his thoughts on how Michigan can improve the county tax system - making it more efficient, more effective and less expensive for citizens.

Citizens Research Council of Michigan Senior Researcher Bob Schneider discusses the American Rescue Plan Act, what it means for Michigan and its potential impact on the state's income tax.

Citizens Research Council of Michigan's Research Director Craig Thiel discusses how investing the current budget surplus into paying down state debt could help the state in the long run.

Craig Thiel, research director for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, discusses the recently passed federal stimulus, which includes funding for schools, but also the decades-old formula being used to determine where the money goes.

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan's Jill Roof and Craig Thiel discuss the length of Michigan's ballots, the number of elected offices voters are asked to decide, and a look at a state board which could lead the way to change.

Research Director Craig Thiel discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic is shining a light on the Michigan school employment shortage

Citizens Research Council of Michigan Research Associate Tim Michling discusses the ongoing Supreme Court case involving the Affordable Care Act and its potential impact on Michigan residents.

Citizens Research Council President Eric Lupher and Research Director Craig Thiel discuss the ballot proposals before Michigan voters dealing with the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and Protection of Electronic Data and Communications

Just how much trouble is Michigan's public sector in as a result of the pandemic? From schools to your local town hall, we take a look.

Sometime late this week, Michigan educators will know just how bad the funding outlook is for schools in the Pandemic Recession. We're just figuring out how to better fund education for everybody. But do we know how to cut the same way?

Rural and urban Michigan are two very different places. But when it comes to COVID-19, they're both similarly at risk.