Livingston Today

State Representative Ann Bollin has endorsed a bipartisan plan to fund local law enforcement and violence prevention efforts across Michigan. The initiative, approved with robust bipartisan support in the House, involves the establishment of the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund. This fund will allocate $115 million annually to local police departments and violence prevention programs.

Bollin emphasized the importance of augmenting local safety efforts, stating, "Keeping our communities safe is one of the most important responsibilities we have, and that means making sure law enforcement has the support they need." Her statement clarified that the plan does not replace existing local investments but supplements them, allowing for more officers, improved equipment, and enhanced support for crime prevention and victims' services.

Michigan's ongoing public safety issues, including four cities ranked among the country's 20 most violent, highlight the urgency of this plan, which includes House Bills 4260 and 4261. These bills propose distributing $115 million from sales tax revenues to support law enforcement and violence prevention. Of this amount, $72 million will be allocated to cities, villages, and townships based on their share of violent crime over the last three years, with a clause ensuring these funds exclusively support public safety and cannot replace existing funds.

The allocation under the plan will differ based on local crime rates. For instance, the city of Novi is slated to receive an additional $91,600, Wixom $40,300, and Commerce Township $39,800. Communities with lower crime rates, like Brighton and Howell, will receive smaller sums.

Additionally, the proposal earmarks $40 million for county sheriff’s offices. These funds will be distributed according to the size of each county’s police force, with townships receiving local police services through the county seeing their share allocated to the sheriff’s office.

Bollin expressed confidence in the plan, saying, “This is a long-term, sustainable solution that gets critical resources directly into the hands of those working to keep our neighborhoods safe,” and affirmed her commitment to supporting local law enforcement agencies.

The legislation now progresses to the Michigan Senate for further evaluation.