#FactsMatter, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan podcast Citizens Research Council of Michigan

Maureen McNulty-Saxton talks to Citizens Research Council Research Associate for Local Affairs Chelsea Dowler

https://crcmich.org/four-elements-of-better-housing-policy

In a Nutshell

- Many housing affordability and equity issues are rooted in car reliance, disinvestment in the urban core, and reliance on underfunded and inefficient federal housing programs.
- A housing production program must tackle root causes to adequately address housing affordability and equity over the long term.
- The state government should provide rent assistance to low-income households and prioritize repairing vacant/blighted homes, housing that facilitates placemaking, and housing in areas where residents won’t be overburdened by transportation costs.

Guest Host Estelle Slootmaker, who recently reported on this issue for SecondWave Media Michigan, interviews Research Council Analyst Karley Abramson.

In a nutshell:

- Health care to prisoners is a costly endeavor, yet the Michigan Department of Corrections does not adequately assess whether it meets its legal obligations to prisoners in the most cost-effective way.
- Three important questions are currently unknowable: Are Michigan prisoners being taken care of up to the constitutional standards that the state is supposed to meet? Is the care being provided efficiently? And is it the best use of taxpayer money?
- Improving quality of care and maximizing cost-effectiveness of the prison health care system requires a significant amount of data to identify and understand potential cost-drivers.
- Since every resident in Michigan has a stake in the quality and efficiency of the prison health care system, the state should ensure that the relevant data regarding prisoner health and spending be made available to policymakers and the public.

While property tax relief for residents and businesses is needed, the split-rate tax proposal may fail to achieve its objective of added economic vibrancy. In its function as a penalty to land speculation, it may have the unintended effect that it worsens the city’s issue with abandoned and vacant land.

- Currently, under consideration by the state Legislature is a bill that would permit Detroit to levy its version of a land value tax.

- The so-called split-rate tax proposal would split the levy between land and built structures, with a higher tax on land to incentivize development and disincentivize land speculation.

- The added penalty to land speculation could worsen the city’s problems with vacant land if speculators decide to abandon property rather than pay more in taxes or develop the land.

Guest Host Malachi Barrett, reporter with Bridge Detroit, chats with James Tatum, Detroit bureau director.

The Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison commissioned Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum* to conduct a comprehensive data analysis of Michigan’s population, economic and environmental conditions to help answer a fundamental question: In what direction is Michigan heading?



Citizens Research Council was thrilled to work with Bridge Michigan as guest hosts for this special series of podcasts covering this five-part research series, entitled “Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities.”

The analysis found that Michigan has been losing ground over the past five decades. It has fallen behind other states in population growth, jobs, earnings, educational achievement, health, and the quality of public services at the state and local levels. Too few interstate immigrants target Michigan as a destination, international immigration has fallen, and too many young Michigan residents are leaving.

Research Council analysts sat down with Bridge Michigan journalists Jonathan Oosting and Lauren Gibbons to discuss each of the five papers:

Population and Demographic Trends
Economy, Workforce, and Talent
Health Trends
Infrastructure, Environment, and Preparedness for Climate Change
Public Sector

These podcasts dig into how Michigan now finds itself in the bottom third of national rankings, including 34th in household income, 36th in K-12 educational outcomes, 39th in health outcomes, 45th in electric service reliability, and 47th in road condition.

Absent policy changes and investments, Michigan’s current path will lead to a shrinking population and continuing declines in the state’s competitiveness and quality of life.

Despite the sobering statistics, there research also shows there is a real opportunity to alter this path with policies that retain young residents and attract domestic and international immigrants to Michigan.

Please enjoy our special podcast series and let us know what you think.

The Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison commissioned Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum* to conduct a comprehensive data analysis of Michigan’s population, economic and environmental conditions to help answer a fundamental question: In what direction is Michigan heading?

Citizens Research Council was thrilled to work with Bridge Michigan as guest hosts for this special series of podcasts covering this five-part research series, entitled “Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities.”

The analysis found that Michigan has been losing ground over the past five decades. It has fallen behind other states in population growth, jobs, earnings, educational achievement, health, and the quality of public services at the state and local levels. Too few interstate immigrants target Michigan as a destination, international immigration has fallen, and too many young Michigan residents are leaving.

Research Council analysts sat down with Bridge Michigan journalists Jonathan Oosting and Lauren Gibbons to discuss each of the five papers:

Population and Demographic Trends
Economy, Workforce, and Talent
Health Trends
Infrastructure, Environment, and Preparedness for Climate Change
Public Sector

These podcasts dig into how Michigan now finds itself in the bottom third of national rankings, including 34th in household income, 36th in K-12 educational outcomes, 39th in health outcomes, 45th in electric service reliability, and 47th in road condition.

Absent policy changes and investments, Michigan’s current path will lead to a shrinking population and continuing declines in the state’s competitiveness and quality of life.

Despite the sobering statistics, there research also shows there is a real opportunity to alter this path with policies that retain young residents and attract domestic and international immigrants to Michigan.

Please enjoy our special podcast series and let us know what you think.

The Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison commissioned Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Altarum* to conduct a comprehensive data analysis of Michigan’s population, economic and environmental conditions to help answer a fundamental question: In what direction is Michigan heading?

Citizens Research Council was thrilled to work with Bridge Michigan as guest hosts for this special series of podcasts covering this five-part research series, entitled “Michigan’s Path to a Prosperous Future: Challenges and Opportunities.”

The analysis found that Michigan has been losing ground over the past five decades. It has fallen behind other states in population growth, jobs, earnings, educational achievement, health, and the quality of public services at the state and local levels. Too few interstate immigrants target Michigan as a destination, international immigration has fallen, and too many young Michigan residents are leaving.

Research Council analysts sat down with Bridge Michigan journalists Jonathan Oosting and Lauren Gibbons to discuss each of the five papers:

Population and Demographic Trends
Economy, Workforce, and Talent
Health Trends
Infrastructure, Environment, and Preparedness for Climate Change
Public Sector

These podcasts dig into how Michigan now finds itself in the bottom third of national rankings, including 34th in household income, 36th in K-12 educational outcomes, 39th in health outcomes, 45th in electric service reliability, and 47th in road condition.

Absent policy changes and investments, Michigan’s current path will lead to a shrinking population and continuing declines in the state’s competitiveness and quality of life.

Despite the sobering statistics, there research also shows there is a real opportunity to alter this path with policies that retain young residents and attract domestic and international immigrants to Michigan.

Please enjoy our special podcast series and let us know what you think.