Towards Fiscally Healthy Michigan Local Governments

Speakers: Amy Hovey, Special Projects Coordinator, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation; Jenna DeAngelo, Associate Director of Local and Regional Fiscal Health, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; Samantha Harkins, Deputy Mayor, City of Lansing, Michigan; Ken Sikkema, Senior Policy Fellow, Public Sector Consultants, and former Michigan legislator; Jean Hunhoff, Representative, South Dakota House of Representatives, and incoming South Dakota Senator

The state of Michigan has long incubated financial stress among its localities. Though not the state’s intention, limits on local governments’ ability to raise revenues, coupled with reduced state aid, have decimated local budgets. Local government fragmentation, which often breeds inefficiencies, has further exacerbated local fiscal distress throughout the state. COVID-19 has posed additional fiscal challenges and placed the quality of life of Michigan residents and the opportunity for businesses to succeed in jeopardy.

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, with the support of the C.S. Mott Foundation, spoke to Michigan stakeholders and researched several causes of Michigan’s local fiscal distress in order to elevate the importance of the issue and recommend policies the state can implement to improve the fiscal health of its local governments. In this webinar, the Lincoln Institute presents its research findings and moderates a discussion among key stakeholders about the issues facing local governments in Michigan. The webinar also highlights the experience of South Dakota in passing legislation that enabled local governments to increase their revenues.