A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers is renewing efforts to pass a significant public safety funding plan that would direct $110 million annually to law enforcement and violence prevention programs across the state.
House Bills 4605 and 4606 would establish the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund, which would draw from Michigan’s state sales tax revenue and distribute the funds to local police departments, sheriff’s offices, victim services, and community-based initiatives.
Introduced by House Reps. Mike Harris, R-Waterford, and Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, the plan was narrowly voted down in November 2023, falling short by just one vote. However, a motion to reconsider passed shortly afterward, keeping the bill alive for future debate. Supporters say the need has only grown since.
The fund would send $75 million directly to police departments in cities, villages, and townships. Another $1.5 million would go toward services for crime victims, and $1.5 million would support innovative violence intervention programs that aim to stop crime before it happens. The remaining funds would be allocated to the sheriff’s departments across Michigan. Distribution would be based on population and crime data, emphasizing high-need areas.
The legislation is designed to add to existing public safety budgets, not replace them. This is a key difference from past proposals and is meant to ensure that cities and counties don’t simply reshuffle their budgets. Local governments would also be required to track how the funds are used and show outcomes, including reductions in violent crime and improvements in community safety.
This renewed push comes when Michigan’s crime trends are shifting. While the state has seen a notable drop in homicides and robberies, Detroit, for example, recorded its lowest number of homicides since 1965, and other crimes are trending upward. Aggravated assaults and motor vehicle thefts have increased, and many smaller or rural communities lack the tools and staff to respond.
Programs like Detroit’s ShotStoppers initiative and the Green Light surveillance network are showing results in large urban centers. Lawmakers argue that these types of efforts can’t expand elsewhere without consistent funding. The proposed trust fund would help level that playing field, allowing local leaders to apply similar strategies in towns and counties that have been historically overlooked.
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Some lawmakers who voted against the bill in 2023 questioned whether the funding would be fairly distributed between urban and rural communities. Others were wary about creating a permanent carve-out in the state budget tied to sales tax revenue, which can fluctuate based on the economy. Transparency and accountability will likely be central issues as the legislation moves forward. What they want is sustainable support and flexibility to meet local needs.
If passed, the bills would mark one of the most significant state-level investments in public safety in recent memory, not only because of increased officers and patrols, but as well updated equipment, better training, and grassroots crime prevention programs.