property tax

CLOSUP Updates

Special Episode on Local Government Finance Report

Apr 14, 2026 Michigan Association of Counties podcast

Michigan counties are leaving the era of COVID-prompted aid with good balance sheets, says a University of Michigan researcher in a new Podcast 83 episode.

In the Media

Leiser explains property tax policy

Feb 23, 2021 WalletHub

Stephanie Leiser discusses the importance of property taxes for personal financial decision-making and implications for policy. "Most economists agree that property taxes are the best tax base for local governments. Compared to other types of taxes, ...

Stephanie Leiser: Helping local goverments in Michigan become healthier and more resilient

News

In latest CLOSUP survey, local leaders say fiscal stress is low, but see red flags

Sep 22, 2015

ANN ARBOR—About two-thirds of local governments in Michigan rate the levels of fiscal stress as relatively low in their jurisdictions today, while just 7 percent rate the stress as high. While the latter percentage is low, the figure represents abo...

Fiscal Health Reports

The Fiscal Health of Michigan Local Governments 2024

March 16, 2026

Margaret Walthall, Stephanie Leiser, Natalie Fitzpatrick, Ann Wilkinson

This report provides an overview of Michigan local government fiscal health using financial data reported to the State of Michigan from 2022 to 2024. This analysis evaluates cash, budgetary, long-term, and service solvency indicators for counties, ci...

Fiscal Strategy Memos

Fiscal Strategies: Will Property Taxes Be Immune to the Effects of COVID-19?

May 1, 2020

Jill Roof, Citizens Research Council of Michigan

This memo is included in the Local Government COVID-19 Fiscal Strategy and Resource Guide.