As the Legislature rushes to finalize the state’s budget, the League continues to prioritize funding for municipalities that are struggling because of a long economic downturn and inadequate state support. The League supports the emergency services provided to Flint, as well as ongoing and long-term state efforts to help identify and treat developmental delays in children and other related health issues for all residents. To prevent future crises, the League also supports full funding of statutory and county revenue sharing, and urges lawmakers to evaluate and reform Michigan’s tax system to ensure that there are adequate resources to keep children and families healthy and safe.
The recent Detroit bankruptcy, the problems facing Detroit Public Schools and the ongoing water crisis in the city of Flint have drawn national attention, but municipal finance problems are not unique to Detroit and Flint and are not even unique to Michigan’s urban centers. Falling property values during the Great Recession resulted in decreased property tax revenue, compounded by state government’s continual cutting and underfunding of statutory revenue sharing. While lawmakers do need to urgently help resolve the Flint water crisis and take care of the kids and people it harmed, they must also think of the state as a whole to ensure that other municipalities do not fall victim to similar problems.
The House and the Senate have both voted out their separate 2017 Treasury budget bills which include revenue sharing, and the Senate has approved a current year budget supplemental to provide $128 million for some additional services to the city of Flint that is awaiting House action. On Tuesday, May 17th, the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference will be held to allow state budget experts and economists to reassess expected state revenues. From there, the budget is on a fast track, with legislative and administration leadership setting departmental spending targets and House/Senate conference committees meeting right after the conference to reconcile the differences in their budget bills.
This report outlines the League’s continued support for Flint and our priorities in the 2017 budget to ensure that other municipalities have the funding they need in order to avoid a future financial—and public health—crisis.
Flint Water Crisis
Just before our current budget year began (October 1, 2015), the state was mired in a crisis. High blood lead levels had been found in an increased number of Flint children, caused by high lead levels pouring from the faucets in their houses. The exposure of the residents of an entire city to lead toxins is a disaster that was preventable and compounded by state government’s denial and delayed response. This crisis now calls for an aggressive and long-term state response, and current year and future budget considerations are being made to address it.
Enacted 2016 Supplemental Budget Funding
Enacted Emergency Provisions: After the water crisis became too severe to be ignored, Michigan lawmakers did come to Flint’s aid, enacting a number of emergency funding provisions totaling $67.4 million ($59.8 million state funding). Much of this early aid focused on getting much-needed water-related resources to Flint residents, including bottled water, lead-removing water filters, funding to reconnect to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, and a partial credit to residents on bills for the water they are unable to use. Also included in some of these early budget supplementals was funding for additional school nurses, Early On service coordinators, testing for lead in both blood and water, and nutrition services through the WIC (Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition) program.
Proposed 2016 Supplemental Budget Funding Awaiting Action
Educational Services: The governor recommended $25.6 million ($6 million state funding) for half-day child care services for children up to age 3 regardless of income to help mitigate developmental delays; intervention services for children with lead-associated developmental delays; and nutrition programs to ensure access to healthy fruits and vegetables. An additional $9.2 million (all state funds) was recommended by the governor for Early On services to children under 5 years old who did not participate in the Great Start Readiness Program.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor on both the $25.6 million for child development and nutrition services and $9.2 million for early intervention services through Early On.
- House: The House only supported the governor’s recommendation of $9.2 million for Early On and has not yet considered $25.6 million for child development and nutrition, indicating that it would consider Flint assistance during its deliberations on the 2017 budget.
Health and Human Services: The governor proposed $8.3 million ($2.2 million state funding) for food bank resources including use of mobile food banks, evidence-based home visitation programs to provide parenting resources and identify developmental delays, and intensive services for children.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor’s recommendation of $8.3 million for these resources and also provided $321,000 for the increased costs of department-contracted private child welfare agencies providing increased care and supervision of foster care children.
- House: The House has not yet approved funding for these services, indicating that it would consider Flint assistance during its deliberations on the 2017 budget.
The state has also received approval from the federal government to expand Medicaid services in Flint to children up to 21 years old and pregnant women who were served by the Flint water system since April 2014, and who have income of up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($80,360 for a family of three). The federal waiver was approved May 3, 2016, and enrollment began on May 9, 2016, after the necessary state funding was found within the existing budget.
Infrastructure Updates: The governor proposed $25 million (all state funds) to begin replacing lead service lines in high-risk, high-hazard Flint homes.
- Senate: The Senate agreed with the governor’s $25 million recommendation for lead service line replacement.
- House: The House has not yet approved funding for these services, indicating that it would consider Flint assistance during its deliberations on the 2017 budget.
The League has supported the emergency services provided to Flint, but also recognizes the need for ongoing and long-term services to help identify and treat developmental delays in kids and health issues related to the Flint water crisis. The Flint water crisis is a canary in a coal mine, and infrastructure problems like Flint’s exist in municipalities statewide. Michigan must evaluate and reform its tax system to ensure that the state has adequate resources to fix the problems in Flint as well as prevent future crises statewide.
Funding for Michigan Cities and Local Governments in the 2017 State Budget
Constitutional Revenue Sharing: The governor recom mended $781.5 million for constitutional revenue sharing, which appears to be a $2.4 million reduction from current year appropriated amounts but is actually a 3.9% increase above the January 2016 Consensus Revenue Estimating Con ference (CREC) estimate for the current year. Under Michigan’s Constitution, 15% of the sales tax levied at the rate of 4% is distributed to all Michigan cities, villages and townships (CVTs) on a per capita basis. This is an automatic, mandatory payment and is not subject to annual appropriations. Adjustments are made based on the January and May CREC estimates, and the amounts appropriated are based on these estimates. However, actual payments will be based on the amount of sales tax collected.
- The House and the Senate agreed with the governor’s recommendation.
Cities, Villages and Townships Revenue Sharing: The governor proposed eliminating $5.8 million in one-time restricted sales tax revenue and removing the per capita distribution component. By doing so, 101 cities, villages and townships (CVTs) that were included in the current year distribution would not receive a payment next year, and CVTs that were eligible for a higher per capita payment would be reduced to the previous appropriation level.
Michigan’s statutory revenue sharing program has a long history. In the late 1990s, the statute was amended to implement a new distribution formula. However, since budget year 2002, actual appropriations have been routinely well below the full funding guideline, and changes in the formula have completely eliminated statutory revenue sharing for 1,033 CVTs. Actual statutory revenue sharing was last used in budget year 2011. Currently, all allocations and distribution formulas are provided for in the annual appropriations bill, and 587 CVTs are eligible for a total of $248.8 million in revenue sharing in the current budget year.
- The Senate reduced funding by 1.5% but maintains eligibility for all local units that are eligible for a payment in the current year.
- The House retained current year funding levels to ensure that all CVTs eligible for a payment in the current year will be eligible for 100% of that amount in the next budget year.
County Revenue Sharing and County Incentive Program: The governor proposed increasing county payments by $467,500 in 2017 to accommodate two new counties (Alcona and Charlevoix) returning to state revenue sharing, as well as maintain full funding. In an agreement to balance the budget, county revenue sharing was suspended in the 2005 budget year. Counties created reserve funds with their own revenues from which they were allowed to draw an annual amount. Once their reserve funds were exhausted, the counties would be eligible for state revenue sharing payments equal to their final authorized withdrawal amount. In the current year, about 76 counties receive state revenue sharing payments, and seven counties still draw from their reserve funds.
- Senate: The Senate provides funding for the newly eligible counties and increases payments to all eligible counties by 2%.
- House: The House agreed with the governor.
Financially Distressed Cities, Villages and Townships: The governor recommended level funding of $5 million for a program that provides grants of up to $2 million for cities, villages and townships with signs of fiscal distress for projects that move the municipality toward financial stability.
- The Senate and House agreed with the governor.
The League supports full funding of statutory and county revenue sharing. For too long lawmakers have shortchanged our struggling municipalities and counties, and it should come as no shock that many of them have fallen on financial hard times. The infrastructure and financial problems in Flint and Detroit are due in part to continued state disinvestment. While an immediate influx of state support in statutory revenue sharing is likely impossible, the state should at least maintain what has been provided in the current year and should start making strides to provide the increases that these municipalities require.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
