The Michigan House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan legislation to establish a $115 million public safety trust fund in an effort to combat violent crime across the state. The fund, which will now be considered by the Senate, aims to provide financial support to police departments, sheriff’s offices, and crime victims with the goal of reducing crime in communities.
Republican Rep. Brian BeGole cited successful programs in Detroit, such as Project Green Light and ShotSpotter, as examples of initiatives that could be expanded statewide. He mentioned that agencies receiving funds will be held accountable for reducing crime in their jurisdictions by at least 5% by 2028, or face a cut in funding.
Democratic Rep. Alabas Farhat stressed the significance of providing historic funding to communities in need. However, not all lawmakers are in agreement with the bills. Democrat Rep. Dylan Wegala expressed concerns about diverting funds from the general fund to local police departments and potentially affecting other programs in the future.
BeGole emphasized the urgency of addressing the high crime rates in Michigan, with nine of the most dangerous cities in the country located in the state. The House Fiscal Agency used violent crime data to allocate funds, with Flint receiving the largest allocation in Mid-Michigan, at nearly $1.9 million. The funding source would be from the state sales tax, with a small percentage dedicated to the public safety trust fund.
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