Will Michigan cities keep vow to cut legacy debt? New law lacks teeth
Just how well will a new state law work that is meant to more closely monitor communities with steep legacy debt?
The answer won’t be known for years, especially in places like the distressed downriver Detroit community of Lincoln Park.
In 2015, Lincoln Park was the last city in Michigan to come out of emergency management, as then-Gov. Rick Snyder praised cost-cutting measures imposed under the state’s emergency management law.
Emergency manager Brad Coulter slashed retiree health costs from $4.3 million a year to $600,00 a year in this city of 37,000, wiped out a $1 million deficit and put about $3 million in savings into the city’s pension system.
Related: A $18B debt is coming due, and it’s haunting small town Michigan
Opinion: Why does ‘fixing’ Michigan pensions stick it to workers?
Retiree pension, health care debts loom
A number of communities in Michigan are facing growing problems with debts to retirees and current employees. A number of the pension and retiree health care funds are woefully underfunded, putting pressure on present-day budgets. Per capita refers to unfunded liability owed for every person in communities where the debt is underfunded. You can search by community name or county using the search box.
Community/ Group covered/ Debt type | Unfunded liability | Funded ratio (percent) | Underfunded? | Per capita |
---|---|---|---|---|
All employees Pension | Alcona County $4,683,594 | 68.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Alger County $4,127,492 | 67.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Alger County $3,958,469 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Munising $3,323,164 | 61.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Allegan $1,735,604 | 68.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Allegan County $9,918,045 | 84.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Douglas $710,282 | 80 | No | |
All employees Pension | Manlius Township $68,105 | 87.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Plainwell $957,424 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Saugatuck $341,047 | 81.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Saugatuck Township $665,372 | 30.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Wayland $2,392,730 | 68.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Alpena $7,908,557 | 76.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Alpena $4,350,343 | 21.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Alpena County $7,800,070 | 62.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Antrim County $7,540,034 | 73.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Antrim County $4,387,909 | 73.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Antrim County $464,373 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Central Lake $14,413 | 92.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Elk Rapids $656,891 | 72.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Arenac County $3,520,193 | 72.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Au Gres $721,625 | 68 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Au Gres $254,000 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Standish $1,049,863 | 60.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sterling $-96,018 | 146 | No | |
All employees Pension | Baraga $2,190,087 | 40.8 | Yes | $1,106 |
All employees Pension | Baraga County $2,481,383 | 64.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Baraga County $1,123,804 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | L'anse $3,569,792 | 46.4 | Yes | $1,880 |
All employees Pension | Barry County $11,396,928 | 78 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Barry County $112,488 | 92.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Hastings $7,986,043 | 50 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Hastings $9,800,802 | 2.2 | Yes | $1,340 |
All employees Pension | Middleville $427,368 | 77.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Middleville $651,714 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Nashville $-22,785 | 105.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Auburn $984,185 | 51.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bay City $23,858,665 | 67.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Bay City $115,290,656 | 12.9 | Yes | $3,474 |
Police and fire Pension | Bay City $18,194,963 | 75 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bay County $-17,790,986 | 107.3 | No | |
Medical care facility Health-care | Bay County $39,629,000 | 17.8 | Yes | $380 |
Voluntary employees' Health-care | Bay County $55,531,000 | 18.2 | Yes | $533 |
All employees Pension | Essexville $2,320,550 | 66 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Essexville $3,758,218 | 0 | Yes | $1,130 |
All employees Health-care | Hampton Township $4,199,278 | 1.8 | Yes | $443 |
All employees Pension | Pinconning $1,035,474 | 55.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Frankfort $1,754,699 | 49.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Frankfort $545,675 | 16.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Benton Charter Township $8,299,678 | 69.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Benton Charter Township $1,553,212 | 49.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Benton Harbor $16,482,433 | 37.6 | Yes | $1,672 |
All employees Pension | Berrien County $91,437,259 | 62.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Berrien County $35,406,863 | 49.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Berrien Springs $113,845 | 92.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bridgman $541,399 | 70.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Buchanan $-42,167 | 100.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Chikaming Township $807,332 | 66.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Coloma $155,183 | 83.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Coloma Charter Township $909,489 | 60.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Eau Claire $351,476 | 34.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grand Beach $14,011 | 95.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | New Buffalo $600,972 | 76.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Niles $4,469,619 | 0 | No | |
Retirement Plan A Pension | Niles $3,994,719 | 81.6 | No | |
Retirement Plan B Pension | Niles $6,139,855 | 70 | No | |
All employees Pension | Niles Charter Township $2,462,688 | 61.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oronoko Charter Township $713,925 | 69.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Joseph $-1,019,234 | 101.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | St Joseph $2,079,964 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Branch County $4,314,677 | 74.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Branch County $879,205 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bronson $933,060 | 58.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Coldwater $9,824,737 | 65.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Union City $1,657,315 | 0 | Yes | $1,057 |
All employees Pension | Albion $825,847 | 94 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Albion $290,514 | 13.6 | No | |
Public safety officers Pension | Albion $-9,100,280 | 167.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Battle Creek $60,000,218 | 57.5 | Yes | $1,170 |
All employees Health-care | Battle Creek $70,650,843 | 7.7 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Battle Creek $38,069,749 | 78.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Calhoun County $29,801,158 | 63.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Calhoun County $10,183,199 | 0 | No | |
Road department Pension | Calhoun County $10,163,117 | 44.4 | No | |
Road department Health-care | Calhoun County $8,872,512 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Emmett Charter Township $1,325,667 | 74.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Marshall $13,114,357 | 61.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Marshall $24,245,441 | 3.1 | Yes | $3,466 |
All employees Pension | Pennfield Charter Township $888,880 | 68 | No | |
All employees Pension | Springfield $3,683,565 | 63.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Springfield $675,955 | 36.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Cass $9,290,667 | 69.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dowagiac $10,421,400 | 48.7 | Yes | $1,811 |
All employees Health-care | Dowagiac $219,902 | 65.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Howard Township $33,055 | 77.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Boyne City $2,383,672 | 73.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Boyne City $460,827 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Charlevoix $5,069,059 | 62 | No | |
All employees Pension | Charlevoix $14,425,947 | 72.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Charlevoix $7,249,557 | 29.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | East Jordan $1,699,188 | 65.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Cheboygan $4,068,388 | 61 | No | |
All employees Pension | Cheboygan $8,494,256 | 69.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Cheboygan $991,366 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mackinaw City $200,590 | 82 | No | |
All employees Pension | Tuscarora Township $763,384 | 66.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Chippewa $13,673,289 | 68.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Chippewa $5,890,036 | 50.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Detour $299,523 | 37.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Drummond Island Township $40,235 | 80.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sault Ste Marie $9,977,094 | 66.6 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Sault Ste Marie $14,024,023 | 50.6 | Yes | $1,029 |
All employees Pension | Clare $3,499,691 | 59.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clare $7,162,380 | 68.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Clare $196,654 | 0 | No | |
Transit Pension | Clare $86,786 | 66.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Harrison $1,037,007 | 70.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Harrison $0 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bath Charter Township $1,854,074 | 75 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clinton $-630,905 | 101.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clinton $-630,905 | 101.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Clinton $-1,275,921 | 113.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dewitt $2,646,240 | 48.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Dewitt $-25,913 | 108.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dewitt Charter Township $1,702,033 | 69.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Fowler $107,334 | 73 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Johns $9,555,450 | 45.7 | Yes | $1,212 |
All employees Pension | Westphalia $163,829 | 72.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Crawford $108,987 | 99.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Crawford $3,345,130 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grayling $1,726,595 | 56.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Delta $11,991,594 | 68 | No | |
All employees Pension | Escanaba $16,134,586 | 54.9 | Yes | $1,320 |
Police and fire Pension | Escanaba $5,668,457 | 83.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Gladstone $7,173,336 | 45.6 | Yes | $1,510 |
All employees Health-care | Gladstone $2,489,098 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dickinson $13,879,388 | 60.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Dickinson $20,761,332 | 13.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Iron Mountain $7,713,862 | 38.1 | Yes | $1,048 |
All employees Health-care | Iron Mountain $34,106,325 | 0 | Yes | $4,632 |
Police and fire Pension | Iron Mountain $6,115,747 | 63.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kingsford $3,121,965 | 62.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kingsford $1,081,040 | 8.9 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Kingsford $-522,075 | 103 | No | |
All employees Pension | Norway $11,452,601 | 42.2 | Yes | $4,153 |
All employees Health-care | Norway $1,086,134 | 14.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Charlotte $9,503,936 | 56.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Charlotte $3,718,314 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Delta Charter Township $3,212,214 | 77.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Delta Charter Township $3,981,492 | 78 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dimondale $205,757 | 75.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Eaton $68,284,606 | 55.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Eaton $42,762,108 | 22 | No | |
Medical care facility Pension | Eaton $1,676,781 | 85.1 | No | |
Medical care facility Health-care | Eaton $1,442,278 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Eaton Rapids $6,006,254 | 58.7 | Yes | $1,156 |
All employees Health-care | Eaton Rapids $10,396,289 | 0 | Yes | $2,001 |
All employees Pension | Grand Ledge $1,367,292 | 57.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grand Ledge $771,725 | 17.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Potterville $285,922 | 69.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Emmet $-452,090 | 110.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pellston $132,363 | 72.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Petoskey $4,816,788 | 81.9 | No | |
Library Retiree Health Care Pension | Petoskey $70,375 | 81.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Burton $30,893,418 | 41.3 | Yes | $1,079 |
All employees Health-care | Burton $10,360,934 | 17.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clio $454,499 | 73.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Clio $331,295 | 17.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Davison $6,098,955 | 49.9 | Yes | $1,237 |
All employees Health-care | Davison $19,228,830 | 2.2 | Yes | $3,901 |
Non-union Pension | Davison $147,790 | 88.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Davison Township $4,046,885 | 71.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Davison Township $5,110,638 | 25.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Fenton $6,666,621 | 60.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Fenton $9,106,113 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Fenton Charter Township $369,778 | 48.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Flint $345,745,163 | 37 | Yes | $3,585 |
All employees Health-care | Flint $293,607,373 | 0 | Yes | $3,044 |
All employees Pension | Flint Charter Township $12,257,630 | 60.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Flint Charter Township $23,995,557 | 0.9 | Yes | $785 |
Fire Pension | Flint Charter Township $2,250,745 | 76.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Flushing $10,334,315 | 47.9 | Yes | $1,300 |
All employees Health-care | Flushing $11,085,498 | 4.9 | Yes | $1,395 |
All employees Pension | Flushing Charter Township $2,157,416 | 61.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Flushing Charter Township $661,972 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Genesee $159,079,421 | 58.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Genesee $308,807,581 | 9.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Genesee Charter Township $9,282,743 | 47.5 | Yes | $451 |
All employees Health-care | Genesee Charter Township $6,257,980 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grand Blanc $517,633 | 96.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grand Blanc $3,139,553 | 14 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grand Blanc Charter Township $8,311,303 | 60.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grand Blanc Charter Township $30,178,511 | 13.2 | Yes | $824 |
All employees Health-care | Linden $1,058,300 | 25.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Montrose $552,654 | 47.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Montrose $928,966 | 0 | Yes | $594 |
Non-Union Health-care | Montrose $604,922 | 0 | Yes | $387 |
All employees Pension | Mount Morris Charter Township $17,023,126 | 51.5 | Yes | $833 |
All employees Health-care | Mount Morris Charter Township $14,538,229 | 0 | Yes | $711 |
All employees Pension | Mt Morris $1,906,949 | 73.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mundy Charter Township $1,937,505 | 76.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Mundy Charter Township $2,063,799 | 40.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Otisville $370,980 | 69.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Richfield Township $2,222,003 | 54.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Richfield Township $3,505,164 | 25.7 | Yes | $419 |
All employees Pension | Swartz Creek $1,091,826 | 87.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Thetford Township $1,136,825 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Vienna Charter Township $709,793 | 61.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Vienna Charter Township $1,866,880 | 10.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Gladwin $7,133,865 | 69.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Gladwin $248,367 | 84.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Gladwin $7,312,111 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bessemer $901,262 | 64.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Gogebic County $11,041,411 | 71.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Gogebic County $1,973,625 | 34.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ironwood $9,592,090 | 48.1 | Yes | $1,930 |
All employees Health-care | Ironwood $27,543 | 98.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Marenisco Township $122,005 | 73.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Wakefield $892,906 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grand Traverse County $46,078,284 | 51.9 | Yes | $502 |
All employees Health-care | Grand Traverse County $2,515,857 | 9.2 | No | |
Pavilions Pension | Grand Traverse County $7,864,621 | 79.8 | No | |
Pavilions Health-care | Grand Traverse County $5,631,381 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Long Lake Township $101,860 | 42.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Traverse City $15,038,794 | 60.5 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Traverse City $14,765,979 | 66.1 | No | |
Police and fire Health-care | Traverse City $4,333,385 | 46.5 | No | |
Retiree Health Insurance Trust Health-care | Traverse City $2,464,176 | 63.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Alma $5,592,862 | 75.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Breckenridge $1,454,681 | 38.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Gratiot $6,880,110 | 76.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Gratiot $4,365,282 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ithaca $2,055,247 | 55.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Perrinton $-1,573 | 101.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Louis $2,007,603 | 73.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Hillsdale $4,756,514 | 79.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Hillsdale $3,207,454 | 61.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Hillsdale $1,581,723 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Litchfield $666,294 | 64.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Reading $75,260 | 82.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Hancock $1,520,356 | 62.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Houghton $13,016,256 | 56.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Houghton $780,728 | 81.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Houghton $1,039,987 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lake Linden $624,170 | 50.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Laurium $1,099,822 | 55.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bad Axe $3,509,535 | 55.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Caseville $742,456 | 72.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Elkton $67,622 | 88.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Harbor Beach $2,400,946 | 69.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Harbor Beach $818,945 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Huron $27,700,272 | 66.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Huron $17,400,036 | 19.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kinde $-676 | 100.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pigeon $467,670 | 59.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Port Austin $176,208 | 73.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sebewaing $992,378 | 87.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ubly $313,253 | 67 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ubly $231,179 | 75.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Delhi Charter Township $3,357,953 | 54.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | East Lansing $89,406,070 | 50 | Yes | $1,830 |
All employees Health-care | East Lansing $40,388,688 | 23.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lansing $137,484,594 | 55.3 | Yes | $1,175 |
All employees Health-care | Lansing $176,902,305 | 23.6 | Yes | $1,512 |
Police and fire Pension | Lansing $141,228,895 | 67.1 | No | |
Police and Fire Health-care | Lansing $260,758,959 | 11.6 | Yes | $2,229 |
All employees Pension | Lansing Charter Township $1,482,158 | 83.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lansing Charter Township $5,791,667 | 1.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Leslie $607,661 | 68.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Leslie Township $82,161 | 81.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mason $7,003,874 | 62.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Mason $1,308,463 | 25.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Meridian Charter Township $27,747,564 | 55.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Meridian Charter Township $825,016 | 84.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Meridian Charter Township $4,468,446 | 49.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Stockbridge $422,085 | 59.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Vevay Township $301,049 | 52.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Williamston $1,707,447 | 64.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Williamston $1,852,608 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Belding $1,184,824 | 49.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Belding $475,194 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ionia $11,689,308 | 45.9 | Yes | $1,045 |
All employees Pension | Ionia $1,975,827 | 79.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ionia $1,089,977 | 90.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ionia $1,338,892 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lake Odessa $-9,527 | 102.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lyons $11,200 | 94.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Muir $87,356 | 74.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pewamo $96,331 | 72 | No | |
All employees Pension | Portland $5,437,922 | 60.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Portland $1,245,219 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Iosco $7,585,950 | 72.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oscoda Charter Township $1,461,717 | 65.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Alpha $-18,440 | 138.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bates Township $169,063 | 43.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Caspian $690,212 | 46.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Crystal Falls $4,018,355 | 56.4 | Yes | $2,918 |
All employees Health-care | Crystal Falls $3,092,120 | 2.8 | Yes | $2,246 |
All employees Pension | Gaastra $120,642 | 62.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Iron $2,518,167 | 70.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Iron River $4,277,287 | 56.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Stambaugh Township $66,261 | 57.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Isabella $14,617,325 | 68.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mt Pleasant $9,752,036 | 69.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mt Pleasant $9,752,036 | 69.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Mt Pleasant $4,037,457 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Mt Pleasant $4,037,457 | 0 | No | |
Police Health-care | Mt Pleasant $615,282 | 70.9 | No | |
Police Health-care | Mt Pleasant $615,282 | 70.9 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Mt Pleasant $2,573,237 | 91 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Mt Pleasant $2,573,237 | 91 | No | |
All employees Pension | Blackman Charter Township $4,653,431 | 62.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Blackman Charter Township $14,711,775 | 0 | Yes | $631 |
All employees Pension | Brooklyn $400,566 | 65.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Brooklyn $57,221 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Jackson $9,720,635 | 80.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Jackson $54,904,822 | 1.4 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Jackson $4,276,377 | 43.4 | Yes | $131 |
Police and fire Pension | Jackson $34,907,460 | 53.1 | Yes | $1,067 |
All employees Pension | Jackson County $59,477,718 | 71.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Jackson County $117,277,316 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Leoni Township $2,048,887 | 66.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Leoni Township $422,203 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Summit Township $6,105,862 | 57.6 | Yes | $272 |
All employees Health-care | Cooper Charter Township $154,486 | 60.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kalamazoo $-209,922,183 | 145.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kalamazoo $70,751,497 | 57.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kalamazoo Charter Township $3,201,049 | 75.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kalamazoo Charter Township $4,612,975 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kalamazoo County $-38,242,716 | 129.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kalamazoo County $42,632,049 | 22.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Oshtemo Charter Township $0 | 100 | No | |
All employees Pension | Parchment $1,429,482 | 58.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Parchment $531,714 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Portage $106,974 | 95.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Portage $-1,767,651 | 129.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Vicksburg $997,474 | 65 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clearwater Township $30,613 | 75.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kalkaska $2,804,021 | 48.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kalkaska $2,044,340 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kalkaska County $5,602,574 | 73.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kalkaska County $979,690 | 20.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Byron Township $470,350 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Cascade Charter Township $2,088,483 | 80.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Cedar Springs $713,682 | 78.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | East Grand Rapids $9,619,184 | 47.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | East Grand Rapids $1,968,699 | 39.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grand Rapids $120,134,505 | 76.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grand Rapids $49,285,772 | 16 | No | |
Fire Health-care | Grand Rapids $24,198,678 | 37.3 | No | |
Library Health-care | Grand Rapids $218,870 | 0 | No | |
Police Health-care | Grand Rapids $37,463,120 | 39.1 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Grand Rapids $98,752,084 | 79.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grandville $2,829,966 | 29.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kent County $-36,933,648 | 104.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kent County $33,397,244 | 43.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Kentwood $332,197 | 99.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Kentwood $-859,499 | 176.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lowell $5,478,203 | 61.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lowell $467,011 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Plainfield Charter Township $1,667,638 | 0 | Yes | $49 |
All employees Pension | Rockford $3,269,113 | 62.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sparta $1,528,308 | 71 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Sparta $253,375 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Walker $9,764,262 | 57 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Walker $6,289,560 | 15.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Wyoming $22,087,560 | 88.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Wyoming $63,092,383 | 36.7 | Yes | $831 |
All employees Pension | Keweenaw County $731,818 | 78.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lake County $5,164,259 | 71.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lake County $5,662,729 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Almont $664,507 | 75.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Almont $1,459,747 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dryden $97,659 | 76 | No | |
All employees Pension | Imlay City $3,048,013 | 63.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Imlay City $150,926 | 68.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lapeer $9,084,591 | 66.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lapeer $16,238,839 | 86.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lapeer $24,679,290 | 5.3 | Yes | $2,833 |
All employees Pension | Metamora Township $188,549 | 84.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Metamora Township $158,708 | 72.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Leelanau County $3,700,256 | 87 | No | |
All employees Pension | Adrian $21,847,395 | 64.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Blissfield $654,338 | 84.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clinton $380,487 | 93.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Deerfield $513,518 | 66.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lenawee County $14,319,376 | 83.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lenawee County $929,263 | 0 | No | |
Medical care facility - salaried Pension | Lenawee County $1,165,885 | 84.9 | No | |
Medical care facility - union Pension | Lenawee County $-151,126 | 106.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Madison Charter Township $413,594 | 73.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Tecumseh $4,161,212 | 83.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Tecumseh $178,629 | 87.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Brighton $8,839,321 | 60.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Brighton $12,193,676 | 9.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Brighton Charter Township $212,928 | 89 | No | |
All employees Pension | Fowlerville $781,498 | 79.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Genoa Charter Township $84,319 | 77.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Green Oak Township $3,234,513 | 59.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Green Oak Township $1,280,301 | 11.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Hamburg Township $1,606,299 | 66.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Howell $10,712,937 | 56.1 | Yes | $1,125 |
All employees Health-care | Howell $9,571,436 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Livingston County $44,241,086 | 68.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oceola Township $148,527 | 88.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pinckney $467,666 | 83.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Pinckney $72,548 | 56.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Luce County $3,148,671 | 55.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mackinac $5,076,807 | 72 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Mackinac $1,740,310 | 23.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Ignace $4,537,242 | 62.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | St Ignace $860,764 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Bruce Township $4,714,632 | 0 | Yes | $510 |
All employees Pension | Center Line $4,336,582 | 47.2 | Yes | $524 |
All employees Health-care | Center Line $19,940,125 | 14.3 | Yes | $2,410 |
Police and fire Pension | Center Line $6,582,015 | 64.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Chesterfield Charter Township $10,325,194 | 72.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Chesterfield Charter Township $9,698,111 | 60.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clinton Charter Township $30,288,833 | 58.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Clinton Charter Township $63,141,128 | 38.3 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Clinton Charter Township $44,799,494 | 72.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Eastpointe $43,576,016 | 48 | Yes | $1,340 |
All employees Health-care | Eastpointe $28,504,657 | 20.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Fraser $29,008,386 | 49.8 | Yes | $1,986 |
All employees Health-care | Fraser $39,098,867 | 0 | Yes | $2,677 |
All employees Pension | Harrison Charter Township $7,352,898 | 66.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Harrison Charter Township $14,428,157 | 12.9 | Yes | $577 |
Fire Pension | Harrison Charter Township $13,647,570 | 48.5 | Yes | $545 |
Fire Health-care | Harrison Charter Township $13,766,894 | 12.9 | Yes | $550 |
All employees Pension | Macomb County $7,000,957 | 99.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Macomb County $294,678,172 | 46.4 | No | |
Road department Health-care | Macomb County $28,713,283 | 60.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Macomb Township $542,672 | 83.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Macomb Township $-2,823,892 | 113.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mount Clemens $-2,065,975 | 103.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Mount Clemens $52,986,424 | 0 | Yes | $3,248 |
All employees Pension | New Baltimore $3,107,466 | 80.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | New Baltimore $10,827,699 | 20.9 | Yes | $875 |
All employees Pension | Romeo $3,149,831 | 60.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Romeo $7,184,188 | 0 | Yes | $1,985 |
All employees Pension | Roseville $56,917,501 | 70.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Roseville $68,965,885 | 9.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Shelby Charter Township $-3,774,248 | 103.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Shelby Charter Township $50,271,938 | 36.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Clair Shores $26,832,029 | 59.3 | Yes | $450 |
All employees Health-care | St Clair Shores $55,599,653 | 10.2 | Yes | $932 |
Police and fire Pension | St Clair Shores $60,867,783 | 62.8 | No | |
Police and fire Health-care | St Clair Shores $90,879,748 | 12.1 | Yes | $1,524 |
All employees Pension | Sterling Heights $31,735,319 | 77.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Sterling Heights $97,855,329 | 50.9 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Sterling Heights $107,602,809 | 65.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Utica $2,162,855 | 60.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Utica $2,810,171 | 28.9 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Utica $3,903,673 | 67.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Warren $68,227,676 | 63.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Warren $122,967,688 | 21 | Yes | $911 |
Police and fire Pension | Warren $176,482,355 | 61.4 | No | |
Police and fire Health-care | Warren $147,743,583 | 13.2 | Yes | $1,094 |
All employees Health-care | Washington Township $88,520 | 82.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Manistee $3,959,651 | 79.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Manistee $330,195 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Manistee County $15,533,841 | 66.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Manistee County $2,994,987 | 0 | Yes | $123 |
All employees Pension | Chocolay Charter Township $-74,142 | 104.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Forsyth Township $3,278,821 | 52.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Forsyth Township $26,349 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ishpeming $7,847,613 | 51.9 | Yes | $1,218 |
Police and fire Pension | Ishpeming $2,044,200 | 68.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ishpeming Township $240,900 | 86.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Marquette $25,673,298 | 56.6 | Yes | $1,245 |
All employees Health-care | Marquette $8,422,352 | 0 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Marquette $11,904,822 | 73.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Marquette Charter Township $863,752 | 71.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Marquette County $39,162,034 | 61.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Marquette County $54,792,835 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Negaunee $5,597,065 | 55.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Negaunee $9,608,174 | 0 | No | |
Police Pension | Negaunee $110,524 | 96.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ludington $6,193,349 | 68.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ludington $6,193,349 | 68.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ludington $843,173 | 0 | No | |
Police Pension | Ludington $2,063,322 | 73.1 | No | |
Police Pension | Ludington $2,063,322 | 73.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mason County $14,898,000 | 74.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Mason County $55,859 | 98.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Scottville $118,362 | 83.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Big Rapids $5,884,433 | 60.7 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Big Rapids $1,987,873 | 71 | No | |
All employees Pension | Mecosta $-643,008 | 101.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Morton Township $264,110 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Menominee $2,377,260 | 74.5 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Menominee $6,819,696 | 60.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Stephenson $279,748 | 56.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Coleman $1,022,914 | 63.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Midland $64,124,474 | 54.7 | Yes | $1,529 |
All employees Health-care | Midland $51,141,162 | 44.1 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Midland $23,443,455 | 72.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Midland County $1,897,411 | 96.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Midland County $38,552,866 | 40.8 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Midland County $2,802,420 | 90.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Missaukee County $1,997,790 | 69.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ash Township $418,395 | 50.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Bedford Township $924,844 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Carleton $397,987 | 70 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dundee $1,658,773 | 58.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Erie Township $-32,099 | 134.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Frenchtown Charter Township $1,373,965 | 81.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Monroe $91,584,359 | 67.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Monroe $11,804,797 | 92 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Monroe $77,490,432 | 39.3 | Yes | $518 |
All employees Health-care | Monroe $10,328,132 | 84.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Petersburg $-28,521 | 105.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Raisinville Township $524,896 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Carson City $128,981 | 69.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Greenville $1,835,994 | 70.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Greenville $1,499,683 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Howard City $193,840 | 76.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Montcalm $18,649,744 | 55 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Montcalm $1,719,774 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Stanton $-46,511 | 186.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Montmorency $5,422,722 | 55.8 | Yes | $586 |
All employees Health-care | Montmorency $0 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Egelston Township $1,149,000 | 7.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Fruitport Charter Township $1,447,000 | 12.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Laketon Township $657,615 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Montague $2,072,136 | 65.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Montague $285,000 | 71.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Muskegon $23,906,954 | 77.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Muskegon $101,456,714 | 62.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Muskegon $38,750,523 | 55.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Muskegon $4,108,000 | 81.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Muskegon Charter Township $7,257,648 | 67.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Muskegon Charter Township $9,779,125 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | North Muskegon $1,660,464 | 74.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | North Muskegon $2,562,000 | 20 | Yes | $675 |
All employees Pension | Ravenna $58,046 | 90.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Roosevelt Park $2,451,869 | 56.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Roosevelt Park $1,329,000 | 14.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Whitehall $1,805,050 | 70 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Whitehall $953,852 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Fremont $5,396,039 | 56.9 | Yes | $1,344 |
All employees Health-care | Fremont $232,914 | 9.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Newaygo $5,842,391 | 77.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Newaygo $10,133,349 | 22.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | White Cloud $427,768 | 57 | No | |
All employees Pension | Auburn Hills $18,319,047 | 74.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Auburn Hills $13,954,479 | 56.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Berkley $9,500,638 | 54.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Berkley $25,440,490 | 8 | Yes | $1,659 |
Public safety Pension | Berkley $4,983,377 | 78.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Beverly Hills $3,765,709 | 84.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Beverly Hills $8,775,084 | 41.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bingham Farms $68,626 | 77.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Birmingham $15,160,060 | 86.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Birmingham $26,882,432 | 54.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bloomfield Charter Township $5,433,551 | 97.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Bloomfield Charter Township $151,953,612 | 3.5 | Yes | $3,614 |
All employees Pension | Bloomfield Hills $6,196,747 | 82.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Bloomfield Hills $9,532,159 | 13.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Brandon Charter Township $1,409,551 | 80 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Brandon Charter Township $2,024,768 | 30.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clawson $14,417,115 | 40.9 | Yes | $1,207 |
All employees Health-care | Clawson $14,093,576 | 0 | No | |
Fire Pension | Clawson $137,289 | 96.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Commerce Charter Township $-81,078 | 128.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Farmington $5,546,178 | 77.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Farmington $1,279,708 | 88 | No | |
All employees Pension | Farmington Hills $39,259,027 | 79.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Farmington Hills $-239,888 | 100.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ferndale $-12,043,677 | 252.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ferndale $32,210,845 | 33.8 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Ferndale $3,144,569 | 93.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Franklin $3,386,139 | 54 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Franklin $603,464 | 36.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Groveland Township $-9,529 | 100.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Groveland Township $-252,010 | 197.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Hazel Park $33,151,813 | 48.7 | Yes | $2,011 |
All employees Health-care | Hazel Park $70,219,751 | 0 | Yes | $4,259 |
All employees Health-care | Highland Charter Township $-431,055 | 176.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Holly $7,065,277 | 49.3 | Yes | $1,147 |
All employees Health-care | Holly $524,088 | 41.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Huntington Woods $10,385,861 | 56.9 | Yes | $1,644 |
All employees Health-care | Huntington Woods $6,884,909 | 15 | No | |
All employees Pension | Independence Charter Township $4,005,400 | 67.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Independence Charter Township $3,050,084 | 62.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Keego Harbor $2,247,670 | 49 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Keego Harbor $66,112 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lake Orion $1,296,919 | 66.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lake Orion $1,768,166 | 3.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lathrup Village $1,931,112 | 76.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lathrup Village $4,830,441 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lyon Charter Township $708,604 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Madison Heights $116,579 | 99.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Madison Heights $27,937,599 | 26.1 | Yes | $930 |
Police and fire Pension | Madison Heights $35,833,493 | 54.2 | Yes | $1,192 |
Police and fire Health-care | Madison Heights $47,477,982 | 21.9 | Yes | $1,580 |
All employees Pension | Milford $3,454,638 | 75.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Milford $-57,000 | 104.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Milford Charter Township $286,267 | 84 | No | |
All employees Pension | Novi $37,680,847 | 61.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Novi $1,436,123 | 94.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oak Park $21,430,091 | 47.4 | Yes | $723 |
All employees Health-care | Oak Park $26,825,302 | 4 | Yes | $905 |
District court Health-care | Oak Park $4,737,968 | 0 | Yes | $160 |
Public safety Pension | Oak Park $31,181,662 | 56.5 | Yes | $1,052 |
Public safety Health-care | Oak Park $27,972,604 | 6.3 | Yes | $943 |
All employees Pension | Oakland $-22,497,565 | 103 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Oakland $-261,360,097 | 126.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Orchard Lake Village $1,854,602 | 68.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Orchard Lake Village $2,015,582 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oxford $1,311,832 | 60.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oxford Charter Township $2,260,557 | 57.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Oxford Charter Township $572,603 | 0.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pleasant Ridge $2,937,320 | 50.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Pleasant Ridge $5,243,712 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pontiac $-201,510,213 | 176.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Pontiac $84,764,641 | 0 | Yes | $1,418 |
Police and fire Pension | Pontiac $27,740,757 | 88.9 | No | |
Police and fire Health-care | Pontiac $-1,831,819 | 104.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Rochester $7,902,744 | 63.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Rochester $1,520,730 | 85.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Rochester Hills $-51,287 | 102.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Rose Township $-85,510 | 331.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Royal Oak $61,620,696 | 71.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Royal Oak $-8,456,086 | 106.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Royal Oak Charter Township $-519,120 | 122.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Royal Oak Charter Township $89,053 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | South Lyon $5,132,219 | 66.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | South Lyon $988,975 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Southfield Township $90,725 | 56.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sylvan Lake $1,028,084 | 64.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Sylvan Lake $456,738 | 46.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Troy $-27,095,476 | 116.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Troy $59,601,825 | 56.5 | No | |
Fire Pension | Troy $10,466,687 | 44.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Walled Lake $10,003,705 | 29.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Walled Lake $3,042,932 | 0.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Waterford Charter Township $-2,152,474 | 103.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Waterford Charter Township $175,406,695 | 6.1 | Yes | $2,406 |
Police and fire Pension | Waterford Charter Township $10,742,239 | 90.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | West Bloomfield Charter Township $18,267,474 | 88.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | West Bloomfield Charter Township $5,927,255 | 92.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | White Lake Charter Township $8,763,939 | 70.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | White Lake Charter Township $11,176,091 | 3.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Wixom $14,974,219 | 54.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Wixom $4,870,218 | 53.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Wolverine Lake $1,427,535 | 55.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Wolverine Lake $196,415 | 2.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Hart $2,120,726 | 7.6 | Yes | $1,008 |
All employees Pension | Hesperia $-31,110 | 197.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oceana $7,686,714 | 66.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Oceana $422,827 | 51.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pentwater $559,020 | 72.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Pentwater $374,729 | 12.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ogemaw $8,215,086 | 71.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ogemaw $652,502 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Rose City $115,571 | 82.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Rose Township $-203,998 | 234.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | West Branch $1,985,063 | 64.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | West Branch $145,796 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ontonagon $6,197,328 | 56.3 | Yes | $4,775 |
All employees Pension | Ontonagon County $3,417,156 | 66.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ontonagon County $3,417,156 | 66.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Evart $277,312 | 46.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Marion $157,531 | 75.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Osceola $3,012,398 | 85.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Osceola $3,012,398 | 85.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Reed City $2,639,920 | 61.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Oscoda $3,726,022 | 64.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Oscoda $303,470 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Gaylord $5,927,547 | 57.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Gaylord $959,585 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Otsego County $8,374,180 | 61.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Otsego County $1,930,701 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Coopersville $685,149 | 75.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ferrysburg $634,116 | 70 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grand Haven $28,040,620 | 72.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grand Haven $4,405,276 | 30.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grand Haven Charter Township $231,059 | 34.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Holland $26,906,559 | 79.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Holland $5,192,937 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Holland Charter Township $139,685 | 0 | Yes | $4 |
All employees Pension | Hudsonville $748,689 | 67 | No | |
All employees Pension | Olive Township $144,796 | 65.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ottawa County $59,546,359 | 78.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ottawa County $1,992,837 | 72.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Park Township $0 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Port Sheldon Township $-6,736 | 100.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Spring Lake $828,228 | 78.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Spring Lake Township $923,798 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Zeeland $1,501,052 | 85.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Zeeland $-81,308 | 104 | No | |
All employees Pension | Onaway $90,731 | 87.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Presque Isle County $4,552,684 | 65 | No | |
All employees Pension | Rogers City $5,826,738 | 47 | Yes | $2,164 |
All employees Health-care | Rogers City $648,725 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Richfield Township $1,114,302 | 62.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Roscommon County $7,117,286 | 74.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Roscommon County $0 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Birch Run $219,955 | 86 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bridgeport Charter Township $3,406,696 | 61.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Bridgeport Charter Township $1,026,964 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Buena Vista Charter Township $4,074,530 | 66.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Buena Vista Charter Township $2,594,879 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Carrollton Township $1,167,683 | 71.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Chesaning $2,691,172 | 18.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Chesaning $212,380 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Frankenmuth $4,673,874 | 68.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Frankenmuth $252,700 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Richland Township $2,135,694 | 55.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Richland Township $1,655,751 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Saginaw $161,623,852 | 51.7 | Yes | $3,320 |
All employees Health-care | Saginaw $272,539,089 | 0 | Yes | $5,599 |
All employees Pension | Saginaw Charter Township $7,100,638 | 63.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Saginaw Charter Township $7,542,820 | 25.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Saginaw County $26,312,329 | 81.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Saginaw County $81,146,451 | 19.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Charles $1,915,828 | 55.2 | Yes | $994 |
All employees Health-care | St Charles $1,299,434 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Swan Creek Township $149,457 | 80.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Swan Creek Township $143,296 | 81.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Tittabawassee Township $254,676 | 92.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Tittabawassee Township $73,983 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Croswell $4,914,624 | 52.1 | Yes | $2,148 |
All employees Health-care | Croswell $982,395 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lexington $1,032,715 | 61.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Lexington $2,319,909 | 0 | Yes | $2,081 |
All employees Pension | Marlette $544,098 | 72.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Port Sanilac $426,008 | 58.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sandusky $1,995,110 | 55.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Sandusky $62,676 | 70.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sanilac County $9,553,062 | 86.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Sanilac County $12,689,946 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Manistique $7,926,135 | 45.4 | Yes | $2,706 |
All employees Health-care | Manistique $1,170,286 | 0.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Schoolcraft County $6,187,357 | 58.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bancroft $64,407 | 30.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Corunna $2,311,162 | 60.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Corunna $218,765 | 13.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Durand $2,208,383 | 63.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Durand $3,755,162 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Laingsburg $59,893 | 89.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Owosso $1,716,545 | 64.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Owosso $5,524,793 | 85.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Perry $777,238 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Joseph County $2,582,949 | 94.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Sturgis $-441,000 | 101.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Sturgis $3,903,774 | 64.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Three Rivers $5,806,217 | 67.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | White Pigeon $27,296 | 89.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Algonac $1,504,519 | 75.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Algonac $-188,477 | 162.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Capac $1,960,639 | 24.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Capac $1,076,049 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Clay Township $3,670,764 | 61.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Clay Township $6,015,930 | 27.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | East China Charter Township $3,280,854 | 62.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | East China Charter Township $436,561 | 51.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Fort Gratiot Charter Township $846,246 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Marine City $1,906,343 | 72.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Marine City $14,236,212 | 1.2 | Yes | $3,471 |
All employees Pension | Marysville $10,785,709 | 59 | Yes | $1,111 |
All employees Health-care | Marysville $9,846,016 | 58.9 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Marysville $12,166,741 | 51.2 | Yes | $1,254 |
All employees Pension | Port Huron $70,847,616 | 53.2 | Yes | $2,439 |
All employees Health-care | Port Huron $37,110,000 | 28 | No | |
All employees Pension | Port Huron Charter Township $1,155,241 | 69.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Port Huron Charter Township $190,908 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Clair $9,917,192 | 54.8 | Yes | $1,859 |
All employees Pension | St Clair $9,917,192 | 57.5 | Yes | $1,859 |
All employees Health-care | St Clair $3,642,565 | 0 | No | |
All employees Health-care | St Clair $3,642,565 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | St Clair County $18,679,139 | 92.8 | No | |
Other Postemployment Pension | St Clair County $19,440,633 | 88.4 | No | |
Other Postemployment Health-care | St Clair County $76,526,918 | 24.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Caro $-68,328 | 104.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Indianfields Township $-38,827 | 114.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Millington $17,458 | 98.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Tuscola County $287,848 | 99.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Vassar $2,862,444 | 60.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Vassar $568,181 | 10.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Antwerp Township $2,310,639 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Bangor $-351,574 | 121 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Bangor $1,204,281 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Covert Township $474,943 | 71.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lawrence $3,166 | 97.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Paw Paw $2,777,112 | 70.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Van Buren County $12,492,427 | 65.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Van Buren County $5,101,712 | 0 | Yes | $68 |
All employees Pension | Ann Arbor $68,112,000 | 87.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ann Arbor $121,000,000 | 56.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Barton Hills $258,944 | 71.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Chelsea $3,795,583 | 70.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Chelsea $1,613,953 | 49.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dexter Township $206,933 | 76.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lima Township $-47,220 | 111.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Manchester $79,002 | 64.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Milan $6,820,182 | 46.7 | Yes | $1,127 |
All employees Health-care | Milan $3,549,323 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Northfield Township $212,726 | 88.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Pittsfield Charter Township $8,944,948 | 75.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Pittsfield Charter Township $1,339,000 | 85.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Saline $10,057,188 | 62 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Saline $7,734,911 | 30 | No | |
All employees Pension | Scio Township $794,173 | 72.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Scio Township $943,936 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Superior Charter Township $2,132,686 | 71.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Washtenaw County $24,656,146 | 78.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Washtenaw County $81,819,159 | 77.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Washtenaw County $117,954,692 | 50 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ypsilanti $-3,705,179 | 126.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ypsilanti $15,625,102 | 29.1 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Ypsilanti $19,384,949 | 57.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ypsilanti Charter Township $6,661,534 | 68.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Ypsilanti Charter Township $6,162,964 | 44.5 | No | |
Fire Health-care | Ypsilanti Charter Township $6,894,128 | 41.7 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Ypsilanti Charter Township $5,435,630 | 83.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Allen Park $24,622,581 | 77.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Allen Park $88,364,831 | 0.6 | Yes | $3,254 |
All employees Pension | Belleville $3,802,868 | 54.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Belleville $3,914,770 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Brownstown Charter Township $7,787,284 | 71.5 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Brownstown Charter Township $19,871,719 | 12.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Canton Charter Township $45,443,759 | 62.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Canton Charter Township $45,840,483 | 23.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dearborn $-444,520 | 104.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Dearborn $161,526,984 | 28.5 | Yes | $1,709 |
Chapter 21 Pension | Dearborn $-14,773,859 | 238.9 | No | |
Chapter 22 Pension | Dearborn $44,149,173 | 76.2 | No | |
Chapter 23 Pension | Dearborn $88,834,151 | 75.8 | No | |
Retiree Life Insurance Health-care | Dearborn $-1,232,638 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Dearborn Heights $13,279,295 | 74.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Dearborn Heights $168,693,439 | 0 | Yes | $3,025 |
Police and fire Pension | Dearborn Heights $25,105,633 | 87.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Detroit $-709,084 | 121.5 | No | |
General emp. I Pension | Detroit $12,907,090 | 73.7 | No | |
General emp. II Pension | Detroit $992,880,646 | 66.1 | No | |
Police and fire II Pension | Detroit $859,215,397 | 77.4 | No | |
Police and fire II Pension | Detroit $7,525,407 | 84.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Ecorse $25,927,451 | 37.8 | Yes | $2,810 |
All employees Health-care | Ecorse $22,623,093 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Flat Rock $13,425,363 | 46.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Flat Rock $14,388,666 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Garden City $32,537,472 | 62.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Garden City $132,273,081 | 0 | Yes | $4,963 |
District court Pension | Garden City $1,042,031 | 62.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Gibraltar $-92,369 | 105.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Gibraltar $8,059,032 | 4.8 | Yes | $1,793 |
Public safety officers Pension | Gibraltar $-179,354 | 102.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grosse Ile Township $13,774,444 | 58.1 | Yes | $1,356 |
All employees Health-care | Grosse Ile Township $17,186,369 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grosse Pointe $-6,001,321 | 118.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grosse Pointe $11,698,878 | 6.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grosse Pointe Farms $1,626,988 | 93.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grosse Pointe Farms $11,038,552 | 15 | Yes | $1,205 |
Public safety Pension | Grosse Pointe Farms $-3,896,950 | 110.9 | No | |
Public safety Health-care | Grosse Pointe Farms $11,425,506 | 31.1 | Yes | $1,248 |
All employees Pension | Grosse Pointe Park $21,042,011 | 53.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grosse Pointe Park $26,620,570 | 0.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grosse Pointe Shores City Of The Village $6,819,563 | 75.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grosse Pointe Shores City Of The Village $8,113,762 | 21.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Grosse Pointe Woods $22,701,361 | 62.4 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Grosse Pointe Woods $53,746,070 | 0.1 | Yes | $3,454 |
Supplemental annuity fund Pension | Grosse Pointe Woods $1,579,906 | 50.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Hamtramck $55,221,927 | 42.6 | Yes | $2,539 |
All employees Health-care | Hamtramck $33,241,386 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Harper Woods $27,599,971 | 44.9 | Yes | $2,008 |
All employees Health-care | Harper Woods $45,615,204 | 0 | Yes | $3,319 |
All employees Pension | Highland Park $5,942,619 | 2 | Yes | $545 |
All employees Health-care | Highland Park $24,087,834 | 0 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Highland Park $4,052,265 | 6.8 | Yes | $372 |
Public safety Pension | Highland Park $31,194,613 | 3.7 | Yes | $2,862 |
All employees Pension | Huron Charter Township $7,463,504 | 65.8 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Huron Charter Township $5,577,792 | 52 | No | |
All employees Pension | Inkster $2,398,512 | 81.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Inkster $8,119,400 | 0 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Inkster $8,144,309 | 76.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Lincoln Park $33,636,562 | 18.1 | Yes | $918 |
All employees Health-care | Lincoln Park $53,192,760 | 0 | Yes | $1,451 |
Police and fire Pension | Lincoln Park $58,666,135 | 26.9 | Yes | $1,600 |
Police and Fire Health-care | Lincoln Park $57,736,481 | 0 | Yes | $1,575 |
All employees Pension | Livonia $-11,620,502 | 105.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Livonia $62,504,000 | 61.2 | No | |
All employees Pension | Melvindale $24,914,191 | 39.3 | Yes | $2,409 |
All employees Health-care | Melvindale $45,097,236 | 0 | Yes | $4,361 |
Police and fire I Pension | Melvindale $-228,252 | 104 | No | |
Police and fire I Health-care | Melvindale $-157,098 | 106.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Northville $8,423,946 | 57.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Northville $10,617,263 | 43.3 | No | |
All employees Pension | Northville Charter Township $14,310,065 | 68.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Northville Charter Township $896,734 | 86.6 | No | |
All employees Pension | Plymouth $7,683,513 | 52.5 | Yes | $841 |
All employees Health-care | Plymouth $12,656,374 | 0 | No | |
All employees Pension | Plymouth Charter Township $9,497,661 | 68.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Plymouth Charter Township $16,383,116 | 0 | Yes | $605 |
All employees Pension | Redford Charter Township $22,481,025 | 55.8 | Yes | $478 |
All employees Health-care | Redford Charter Township $52,114,572 | 3.7 | Yes | $1,107 |
Police and fire Pension | Redford Charter Township $48,192,462 | 56.8 | Yes | $1,024 |
Police and fire Health-care | Redford Charter Township $83,925,548 | 4.7 | Yes | $1,783 |
All employees Pension | River Rouge $2,523,849 | 87.6 | No | |
All employees Health-care | River Rouge $62,108,641 | 0 | Yes | $8,301 |
Police and fire Pension | River Rouge $9,765,117 | 77.4 | No | |
All employees Pension | Riverview $6,126,643 | 83.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Riverview $42,226,967 | 0 | Yes | $3,488 |
All employees Pension | Rockwood $278,192 | 89.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Rockwood $6,595,866 | 8.9 | Yes | $2,072 |
All employees Pension | Romulus $30,907,302 | 39.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Romulus $58,615,605 | 5.9 | Yes | $2,499 |
All employees Pension | Southgate $10,445,238 | 64.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Southgate $30,063,301 | 7.7 | Yes | $1,034 |
Police and fire Pension | Southgate $29,262,682 | 59.6 | Yes | $1,006 |
Police and fire Health-care | Southgate $50,023,306 | 2.7 | Yes | $1,720 |
All employees Pension | Sumpter Township $2,470,964 | 71.1 | No | |
All employees Pension | Taylor $44,353,651 | 46.6 | Yes | $724 |
All employees Health-care | Taylor $333,124,138 | 0 | Yes | $5,436 |
District court Pension | Taylor $1,047,830 | 72.7 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Taylor $103,837,254 | 54.1 | Yes | $1,695 |
All employees Pension | Trenton $20,760,728 | 54.5 | Yes | $1,137 |
All employees Health-care | Trenton $80,535,809 | 8.9 | Yes | $4,412 |
Police and fire Pension | Trenton $17,621,436 | 74.8 | No | |
All employees Pension | Van Buren Charter Township $4,755,063 | 73.3 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Van Buren Charter Township $26,814,905 | 5.8 | Yes | $948 |
All employees Pension | Wayne $47,954,243 | 57.1 | Yes | $2,830 |
All employees Health-care | Wayne $85,547,284 | 2.6 | Yes | $5,048 |
All employees Pension | Wayne County $647,909,032 | 55.2 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Wayne County $284,305,000 | 5.9 | No | |
All employees Pension | Westland $78,605,871 | 40.7 | Yes | $962 |
All employees Health-care | Westland $279,605,383 | 0 | Yes | $3,420 |
Police and fire Pension | Westland $67,545,897 | 70 | No | |
All employees Pension | Woodhaven $5,877,455 | 78.9 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Woodhaven $26,764,283 | 0 | Yes | $2,144 |
All employees Pension | Wyandotte $29,175,187 | 69.1 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Wyandotte $126,992,243 | 1.7 | Yes | $5,084 |
All employees Pension | Cadillac $2,882,476 | 76.7 | No | |
All employees Health-care | Cadillac $287,160 | 83.5 | No | |
Police and fire Pension | Cadillac $2,727,296 | 79.8 | No | |
Police and fire Health-care | Cadillac $1,190,590 | 60.7 | No | |
All employees Pension | Manton $1,252,327 | 35.5 | No | |
All employees Pension | Wexford County $9,639,139 | 67.3 | No | |
Calling it a “painful decision,” Coulter did so by scrapping health care coverage for hundreds of retirees and replacing it for some with a monthly stipend of $150 to $450. He also eliminated reimbursement for others under Medicare Part B, which meant those retirees would have to pay individually into that program.
Retirees sued, but a federal court in 2017 upheld Coulter’s actions.
Three years later, Lincoln Park is by no means out of the woods.
It still had more than $90 million in unfunded pension debt in 2017, according to the state Treasury Department, with $9 million in required annual contributions – nearly one-third of its revenues. Thanks to its elimination of health care benefits, it now calculates its unfunded health care liability at just $4 million – where it had exceeded $100 million.
Under a law approved in 2017, Lincoln Park is among nearly 90 Michigan cities, large and small, from all parts of Michigan, required to file plans to pay down their debt. The list is proof just how pervasive this problem remains across the state.
State standards call for pension plans to be at least 60 percent funded. Lincoln Park’s pension for municipal workers was just 18 percent funded in 2017. Its pension for police and firefighters was 27 percent funded.
The state in January approved Lincoln Park’s plan for improving its financial standing, including a promise to contribute $3.4 million more a year to the municipal workers pension fund until it is 60 percent funded. But it projects it won’t reach that standard until 2035.
The city calculates its retiree health debt will be 40 percent funded – the state standard – by 2028, by promising to contribute $528,000 a year to the fund for 12 years.
Lincoln Park City Manager Matthew Coppler told Bridge Magazine there’s no guarantee the city can keep this payment schedule for a decade or more, especially if there’s a recession.
“I am a little concerned about what the market is doing now,” he said. “A number of our gains are being washed away.”
But he nonetheless said the city fully intends to stand by its promises.
“That is our first commitment,” he said.
Whether Lincoln Park – and other cities like it – stick to their word over time will be critical to how well this law works.
Eric Scorsone, a Michigan State University economist and former deputy state treasurer, concedes there’s no teeth in the law to force cities to comply with their stated plans.
“I think we knew going into this, whether they could actually follow their plans is going to be a question mark. We knew this was going to be a starting place, not an ending place.
“Has it fixed all the problems? No, I don’t think anyone thought that was going to be the case.”
That might by why critics have been skeptical the law has the teeth needed to force troubled communities to aggressively tackle its liabilities.
"While identifying the problem with accurate information is very important, our local government workers, Michigan's taxpayers and our future generations need a solution," John Kennedy, chairman of the West Michigan Policy Forum and president and CEO of Kentwood-based Autocam Medical, said in a statement about the new law.
"We cannot simply stop at this point and think everything has been resolved."
Rep. James Lower, R-Cedar Lake, had fought for stricter state oversight that would have allowed state financial teams to impose measures to drive down debt in communities that refuse to tackle it on their own. Employee unions, Democratic lawmakers and municipal lobbying groups opposed the measure and it was stripped from the legislation.
Lower ultimately voted against the watered-down version of the very measure he had co-sponsored.
“If it doesn’t work out, it’s entirely on them,” Lower said.
Meanwhile, many of Michigan’s larger cities remain deep underwater.
According to Treasury Department data, Lansing had about $573 million in unfunded pension and retiree health care debt in 2017. That year, the city spent about $44 million ‒ more than a fifth of the city’s $197 million in revenue ‒ on promised pension and health care benefits to its retirees.
Flint had nearly $640 million in unfunded legacy debt, with just 37 percent of its pension debt funded and none of its $293 million in health care funded. Saginaw had more than $430 million in unfunded health care and pension debt, according to Treasury figures.
Wayne County has the highest concentration in the state of cities flagged by Treasury for unfunded debt.
The Wayne County list encompasses 28 cities and public bodies – including more than a dozen Detroit downriver communities such as Allen Park, Ecorse, Southgate, Taylor in addition to Lincoln Park.
“A lot of these communities are going to be dealing with this for many years to come,” Scorsone said.
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