Ann Arbor Times

Concerns about funding levels are prevalent among Michigan law enforcement agency leaders, with nearly half of police chiefs and county sheriffs expressing dissatisfaction with the financial support provided by local governments. However, only one in five local government officials responsible for these funds shares this concern.

The findings are part of the Michigan Public Policy Survey conducted in spring 2024 by the Center for Local, State and Urban Policy. According to the survey, 59% of county sheriffs and 45% of local police chiefs feel that their agencies do not receive adequate funding from local governments. In contrast, just 19% of local government officials believe they fall short in providing necessary resources for law enforcement, while 11% think they allocate too much money.

The survey reveals that assessments of funding are not strongly linked to perceived crime levels. Among law enforcement officials worried about crime in their communities, 51% say their agency is underfunded. This compares to 40% from areas where crime is considered less problematic or not an issue at all.

Similarly, even where local leaders view crime as a significant problem, 59% believe current policing funds are appropriate, and 8% think they overpay.

Regional disparities were also noted: Law enforcement agencies in the Upper Peninsula are more likely to report insufficient funding than those in the western central Lower Peninsula who claim adequate financial support. More than half of surveyed leaders from urban or mostly rural areas feel underfunded compared to those from mostly urban areas who consider themselves adequately funded.

Despite most local leaders perceiving law enforcement funding as sufficient, many remain open to seeking additional funds. The survey indicates that 44% of officials in communities directly providing law enforcement services would back new millage or special assessments versus 27% opposing such measures.

“We also asked about priorities for spending any new funding for law enforcement,” said Debra Horner, senior program manager for the survey. “Sheriffs, police chiefs and local government leaders all say recruitment and retention efforts are among their highest funding priorities. But law enforcement leaders are significantly more likely to say increasing pay or benefits for current officers would be a very high priority, while hiring new officers is particularly important among local government officials in places that fund police or sheriffs’ offices.”

Since its inception in 2009 by CLOSUP at U-M’s Ford School of Public Policy, the Michigan Public Policy Survey has included responses from county, city, township and village officials across the state. The spring 2024 survey wave was supported by a grant from The Joyce Foundation.