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Citizens Research Council of Michigan

@crcmich.bsky.social
61 followers 72 following 171 posts

The Citizens Research Council was established in 1916 to bring about sound public policy through factual research. Nonpartisan. Independent. #FactsMatter crcmich.org

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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Learn more about statewide ballot Proposal 1 (should Michigan hold a con-con) and Prop. 2 (Money Out of Politics),by tuning in this Sunday, 10/4, for WYXZ's must-see TV: "Spotlight On the News" with Chuck Stokes. The program will be added here after airing. www.wxyz.com/news/politic...
wxyz.com
Spotlight on the News: The who, what, where, when & why of Michigan's Proposal 1 & 2
On Sunday, October 4th, Spotlight on the News will interview Eric Lupher, President of the non-partisan Citizens Research Council of Michigan about its analysis of Proposals 1 and 2.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
If you missed the webinar on Proposal 2 (Mop Up Michigan/Money Out of Politics), we've got you covered! Find the webinar, the slides, the paper, the summary of the paper - all of the things - right here: crcmich.org/webinars/und... #MichiganElections #FactsMatter #MoneyOutofPolitics #MopUpMichigan
crcmich.org
Proposal 26-2: Money Out of Politics - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
At the November 3, 2026, general election, Proposal 2026-02 will ask voters whether an initiated statute should be enacted for the purposes of prohibiting regulated electric and gas utilities, contrac...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
💰🤝 🌞 Join our FREE webinar tomorrow, October 1, 12-1:30 pm to learn more about Proposal 2, also known as "Money Out of Politics" and "Mop Up Michigan." crcmich.org/publications... You'll also find our analysis and a summary of Prop. 2 Find the full podcast ⬇️ on Prop. 2 here: crcmich.org/podcast
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🌞 💰How much do you know about Proposal 2, also known as "Money Out of Politics" or "Mop Up Michigan"? Join our FREE webinar tomorrow, October 1, 12-1:30 pm to learn more: crcmich.org/publications... Find the full podcast ⬇️ on Prop. 2 here: crcmich.org/podcast #MichiganElection #FactsMatter #Prop2
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🌞🤑 Want to learn more about Proposal 2, also known as "Money Out of Politics" and "Mop Up Michigan"? Join our FREE webinar tomorrow, October 1, 12-1:30 pm to learn more: crcmich.org/publications... Find the full podcast ⬇️ on Prop. 2 here: crcmich.org/podcast #MichiganElection #FactsMatter #Prop2
crcmich.org
Proposal 2026-02: Mop Up Michigan Initiative - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Proposal 2, commonly called Mop Up Michigan, is a proposed statutory initiative to amend the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA). If Proposal 2 is Adopted, the law would be amended to: The different ...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
🗳️💵💰Before you vote! Join us Thursday, Oct. 1, 12-1:30 pm, for a webinar digging into everything about Prop. 2 - Money Out of Politics (Proposal 2026-02 Mop Up Michigan Initiative) #MichiganElection #MichiganCampaignFinanceAct #FactsMatter crcmich.org/webinars/und...
crcmich.org
October 1 - Proposal 26-2: Money Out of Politics - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
At the November 3, 2026, general election, Proposal 2026-02 will ask voters whether an initiated statute should be enacted for the purposes of prohibiting regulated electric and gas utilities, contrac...
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Chad Livengood @chadlivengood.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Political Insider podcast: Con-Con 101 from Eric Lupher of @crcmich.bsky.social on what would happen if Michigan voters called a constitutional convention www.detroitnews.com/videos/news/... via @detroitnews.com
detroitnews.com
What would happen if Michigan voters called a constitutional convention
Citizens Research Council of Michigan's Eric Lupher explains how a constitutional convention would work if voters call for one in the Nov. 3 election.
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Gary Maveal @mavealgm.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This briefing offers instructive background on Michigan’s Constitution and the many issues raised by Proposal 1. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
📜 🗳️ ✅ Don't worry if you missed today's webinar on Proposal 1: Should Michigan Voters Call a Constitutional Convention in 2026? Webinar, slides and 16-paper series, plus a summary of Prop. 1, here: crcmich.org/webinars/pro... #MichiganElections #ConstitutionalConvention #MichiganConCon
crcmich.org
September 22 - Proposal 26-1: Constitutional Revision - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
At the November 3, 2026, general election, Proposal 2026-01 will ask voters whether a constitutional convention should be convened for the purpose of a general revision of the 1963 Michigan Constituti...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The kids are alright. crcmich.org/teen-takeove...
crcmich.org
"Teen Takeovers” on the Rise? Evidence Shows Youth Crime Down in Detroit - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
In a Nutshell Detroiters continue to call for more action to address crime and safety in the city. In a 2025 survey by the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS), Detroiters reported that crime ...
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EPDiogenes @ericpauldennis.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Utility hits are way too common and largely avoidable. I wrote about this. crcmich.org/legislative-...
crcmich.org
Legislative Direction is Needed to Facilitate Infrastructure Coordination - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Michigan could become a national leader in infrastructure management by adopting legislation that envisions infrastructure assets within public ROWs as a coherent engineered system within a statewide ...
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The Detroit News @detroitnews.com · 21/09/2026
Detroit officials estimate residents spend over $3 billion a year in surrounding communities on goods and services they can't easily find in town.
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Shopping around: How Detroit is trying to attract more retail
Detroit officials estimate residents spend over $3 billion a year in surrounding communities on goods and services they can't easily find in town.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
🌞Our Con-Con Pod series is winding down! Article XI covers civil service, impeachment, ethics and transparency rules. Michigan consistently ranks among the worst states for ethics and transparency laws. This episode breaks down what works, what’s outdated, and what a Con-Con could fix. #FactsMatter
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EPDiogenes @ericpauldennis.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
crcmich.org/local_govern...
crcmich.org
Local Government Considerations in Hyperscale Data Center Development - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Local government considerations in responding to hyperscale data center proposals.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
👩‍💼👨‍💼Our #MichiganConCon series is nearly over: Article XI-Public Officials and Employment dropped this week. If Michigan voters approve a Constitutional Convention, Article IX issues would include civil service reform, collective bargaining, and tougher ethics requirements. crcmich.org/publications...
crcmich.org
Michigan Constitutional Issues - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
At the November 3, 2026, general election, Proposal 2026-01 will ask voters whether a constitutional convention should be convened for the purpose of a general revision of the 1963 Michigan Constituti...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
State tax policy made Michigan attractive to hyperscale developers, but it is largely left to local governments to navigate the issues involved with each proposal. Our recent Research Brief provides an overview of these issues from a local government perspective. crcmich.org/local_govern...
crcmich.org
Local Government Considerations in Hyperscale Data Center Development - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Local government considerations in responding to hyperscale data center proposals.
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States Newsroom @statesnewsroom.com · 01/09/2026
Cuts to the nation’s largest food assistance program may cause students to lose access to free breakfast and lunch. via @stateline.org www.newsfromthestates.com/article/snap...
newsfromthestates.com
SNAP cuts could lead to kids losing free school breakfast and lunch
Cuts to the nation’s largest food assistance program will likely spill over into schools, causing students to lose access to free breakfast and lunch.More than 1 million American children have lost…
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
"Eric Lupher at Citizens Research Council of Michigan has advocated for years for major reform of the township system, such as potentially merging small townships and moving some core responsibilities from townships to county government..." bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
As crisis looms for Michigan rural townships, bills to help sit idle in Lansing - Bridge Michigan
Small towns have trouble attracting leaders and are saddled with increasing responsibilities, but efforts to help struggle to even get a hearing in the Capitol.
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Carol Thompson @carol-thompson.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
You've heard the warnings about harmful algae blooms: Don't go near the scum. It's dangerous to drink or touch. But what about to breathe? Scientists at U-Toledo and U-Mich race to learn more about the risk. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
detroitnews.com
Algae blooms' toxins are dangerous to touch. But what about to breathe?
University of Michigan and Toledo scientists are studying how exposure to airborne toxins from Lake Erie's algae blooms could affect people.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Michigan SNAP enrollment has dropped by 8%, about 100,000 people, after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act eligibility changes. Karley Abramson joins Guy Gordon to explain who lost access, why it matters, and how Michigan can soften the impact. 🎙Full pod in comments #SNAP #FoodSecurity #Michigan #Policy
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Since the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act reforms took effect, 100,000 fewer people in Michigan are receiving SNAP benefits, and the state is receiving $300 million less in federal SNAP funding this year. Michigan is not saving money; it is facing only negative outcomes. (1 of 2; see comments).
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
📉K–12 school enrollment has dropped nearly 25% since 2003 and is projected to drop an additional 8% over the next 5 years. The new K-12 budget introduced one of the most consequential changes in years: a 3-year averaging formula. But Thiel argues the one-time $$ being used creates a funding cliff.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Michigan’s economic warning lights are flashing crcmich.substack.com/p/michigans-...
crcmich.substack.com
Michigan’s economic warning lights are flashing
Using Localized, Data-Driven Strategies to Achieve Prosperity in Michigan
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
"While the Michigan Legislature has the power to transfer services from townships and make it easier to merge, there is little appetite for tweaking the system," said CRC president Eric Lupher. "The harm being done is so incremental that people don’t realize that things aren’t working right.” #
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The Declining Student Enrollment Funding Policy is included in the FY2027 budget, but when policymakers begin work on the FY2028 School Aid Budget, they should consider whether declining-enrollment assistance should become a permanent, sustainable component. crcmich.org/michigans-ne... #FactsMatter
crcmich.org
Michigan’s New Declining Student Enrollment Funding Policy is Good News . . . at Least for Now - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
In a Nutshell Declining student enrollment has been a financial challenge for Michigan K-12 school districts for over two decades and is projected to continue. Under the state-controlled per-student f...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
How Michigan’s Education System Could Change if a Con-Con is Approved in November Article VIII-Education, the 10th episode in the #FactsMatter podcast series exploring the Michigan Constitution's 12 Articles. Voters will decide whether to hold a con-con in Nov. crcmich.substack.com/p/how-michig...
crcmich.substack.com
How Michigan’s Education System Could Change if a Con-Con is Approved in November
Podcast #10 in a series exploring the Michigan Constitution's 12 Articles
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
🎯👏What an amazing turnout yesterday! For those unable to attend our Lunch & Learn presentation on hyperscale data centers in MI, here is a link to both the original data center report and yesterday's presentation: crcmich.org/event/lunch-... #FactsMatter #Datacenter #Michigan #Michiganwater
crcmich.org
Lunch and Learn: A Discussion of Data Center Issues - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A presentation on data center policy including: Tax incentives, economic impacts, water use and pollution, noise pollution, heat island impacts, and more. youtu.be/_GX0UhLbG4Y?...
youtu.be
Data Center Lunch and Learn
YouTube video by Citizens Research Council of Michigan (crcmich)
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The Research Council spotted a huge gap in Michigan’s budget — and only then did leaders explain how they filled. Find the full pod everywhere you get your podcasts, our website and Substack: crcmich.substack.com/p/unpacking-...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
For the 2nd consecutive budget cycle, the MI Legislature & Governor have passed a budget with a seemingly intentional focus on making the budget appear smaller than it really is, shifting dollar appropriations into more invisible boilerplate appropriations. #mileg #mipol crcmich.org/publications...
crcmich.org
Breaking Down the FY2027 Budget: More Work is Needed - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
In A Nutshell
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Michigan Advance @michiganadvance.com · 14/07/2026
Relief from energy bills unlikely as utilities request billions in rate hikes michiganadvance.com/2026/07/14/r... From @stateline.org
michiganadvance.com
Relief from energy bills unlikely as utilities request billions in rate hikes • Michigan Advance
Consumers are unlikely to see any relief in gas and electric bills as utilities proposed more than $18 billion in rate hikes across the country over the first half of the year. The consumer advocacy g...
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Michigan Advance @michiganadvance.com · 13/07/2026
Michigan Data Centers: The Weekly Download News and updates on data centers in the Great Lakes State for the week of July 6 michiganadvance.com/2026/07/13/m... By @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social
michiganadvance.com
Michigan Data Centers: The Weekly Download • Michigan Advance
News and updates on data centers in the Great Lakes State for the week of July 6
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States Newsroom @statesnewsroom.com · 10/07/2026
Find dedicated coverage on our "Data Centers" trend page and read through this thread to find the latest news from the week. www.newsfromthestates.com/rising-trend...
newsfromthestates.com
Data Centers | News From The States
Rapidly expanding in an increasingly digital world and the rise of artificial intelligence, data centers are under intense scrutiny across the states. Companies tout economic development and job creat...
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The Detroit News @detroitnews.com · 10/07/2026
Cases have been identified in at least 43 Michigan counties, with the largest number, 215, in Monroe.
bit.ly
44 people reported hospitalized as cyclosporiasis cases surge in Michigan
Cases have been identified in at least 43 Michigan counties, with the largest number, 215, in Monroe.
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Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 10/07/2026
bit.ly
Bridge Listens Issues Watch continues with virtual discussion on democracy
oin Bridge reporters on July 29 as they discuss the issues around the state of democracy including the political divide, election integrity, money in politics and more.
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Michigan Advance @michiganadvance.com · 08/07/2026
Researchers stress case-by-case approach when evaluating Michigan data center deals michiganadvance.com/2026/07/08/r... By @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social
michiganadvance.com
Researchers stress case-by-case approach when evaluating Michigan data center deals • Michigan Advance
Data centers have become a contentious issue across Michigan, as environmental concerns, skepticism toward Big Tech and arguments on local control sit at odds with job predictions, economic growth and...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
www.michiganpublic.org/politics-gov...
michiganpublic.org
Michigan communities are hitting pause on data centers. The clock is ticking.
At least 52 Michigan communities have enacted data center moratoriums — temporary pauses that stop the acceptance or approval of permits for certain types of developments.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
🔌🚰🖥️ Data centers are not the economic development miracle often described by boosters, nor the threat to everything residents hold dear, as opponents often describe. Sign up for our 7/8 webinar examining the impact of hyperscale data centers: register.gotowebinar.com/register/206...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
New #FactsMatter podcast: Dissecting data center controversies. Water, power, economics, and more! www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZva...
youtube.com
Facts over Fear: What Michigan Needs to Know About Hyperscale Data Centers
YouTube video by Citizens Research Council of Michigan (crcmich)
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EPDiogenes @ericpauldennis.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
tl/dr; No one believes that transmission interconnection costs for data centers should be allocated to other ratepayers, but that's complicated in practice. New FERC guidance may help. www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-do...
utilitydive.com
6 takeaways from FERC’s data center interconnection decision
If RTOs fail to address large-load concerns identified by FERC, the agency will dictate the solutions, per FERC’s David LaCerte. “I say this not as a threat, but as a statement of duty,” he said.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
"Hyperscale data centers impose a relatively new type of noise pollution. There is reason to believe that adverse impacts of data center noise—both in terms of annoyance and human health—are not sufficiently addressed by existing noise assessment methods." crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/202...
crcmich.org
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
The Reseach Council has released a comprehensive report on data centers. Take-away: Economic benefits are often over-stated, but so are the risks. The most pressing concern is mitigating noise pollution. crcmich.org/publications...
crcmich.org
Data Centers in Michigan:  Evaluation of Policy Controversies Regarding Hyperscale Data Center Development - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
In a Nutshell Data center development proposals should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. While large ‘hyperscale’ facilities should be carefully scrutinized to mitigate potential negative impacts ...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The Research Council addressed this issue last year. EGLE's new permitting approach may not be perfect, but monitoring ag pollution is critical to protect Michigan's waters. crcmich.org/cafopermitti...
crcmich.org
Regulation of Large Livestock Farms is Not Working for Farmers or the Environment - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
Concentrated animial feed lots, sometimes called 'factory farms,' pose a unique challenge for environmental regulators.
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
When US Supreme Court decisions start dropping soon, watch out for this #Michigan case. A ruling for the plaintiff could trigger class‑action suits from former homeowners, exposing counties to hundreds of millions in potential repayments. Our brief: crcmich.org/more-changes... #Affordablehousing
crcmich.org
More Changes on the Horizon for Michigan's Property Tax Foreclosure Process - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
An issue now before the U.S. Supreme Court could disrupt Michigan’s tax foreclosure process and the impact the system has on compelling timely property tax payments. The case concerns Michigan’s tax f...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
This week's #FactsMatter podcast looks at Pung v. Isabella County, which will be decided this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court over what constitutes "just compensation" when a county sells foreclosed property to recover delinquent property taxes, interest and fees. Podcast link in comments. #MiLeg
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
When US Supreme Court decisions start dropping soon, watch out for this #Michigan case. A ruling for the plaintiff could trigger class‑action suits from former homeowners, exposing counties to hundreds of millions in potential repayments. Our brief: crcmich.org/more-changes... #Affordablehousing
crcmich.org
More Changes on the Horizon for Michigan's Property Tax Foreclosure Process - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
An issue now before the U.S. Supreme Court could disrupt Michigan’s tax foreclosure process and the impact the system has on compelling timely property tax payments. The case concerns Michigan’s tax f...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
More work from our #Detroit bureau: more context behind Detroit's big drop in homicides; that's good news, but there is still much work to do. Full pod here: crcmich.org/podcast #MIpol #MiLeg #Factmatter #Michigan
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
There is still time to help us celebrate 110 years of independent research in Michigan. Our goal is to raise $25,000 by April 30 to sustain the work that keeps facts at the center of Michigan’s policy discussions. Consider a $110 anniversary gift today. crcmich.org/April-appeal
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
💸 💰Several Michigan gubernatorial candidates have pledged to significantly cut or even eliminate the income tax, with few, if any, details on how they would replace the lost revenue. Before voting, people should understand which public services are funded by income taxes. crcmich.org/michigans-in...
crcmich.org
Michigan’s Income Tax: Where Does the Money Go? - Citizens Research Council of Michigan
In a Nutshell Yesterday was April 15th – Tax Day. That means hundreds of thousands of Michigan taxpayers were putting the finishing touches on tax returns and sending them in to federal, state, and – ...
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Citizens Research Council of Michigan @crcmich.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
"In Lansing, it’s hard to find a major policy debate that hasn’t at some point been touched by the Citizens Research Council of MI. For 110 years, they’ve been doing work behind the scenes, digging into the data that shapes how decisions are made." wzmq19.com/news/360672/...
wzmq19.com
Citizens Research Council of Michigan marks 110 years of nonpartisan policy work
LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) -In 1916, a council of researchers was formed to analyze policy in the state of michigan to spur growth and understanding of how the
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