High taxes, low wages, yet the City of Detroit still drowns in debt. Here’s why the city faces long odds even after shedding bankruptcy debt.
Mike Wilkinson
Mike has been a reporter for Bridge Michigan since 2013 and focuses on data-assisted reporting, often finding stories by analyzing maps and data sets and has created Bridge's dashboards on COVID-19, the state's economy and Michigan's elections. He held similar positions at The Detroit News and The Blade of Toledo. A native of Michigan, Mike grew up in Macomb County, graduated from the University of Michigan and started his reporting career in New Baltimore before his career took him to Illinois, Tennessee and Ohio. You can reach him at mwilkinson@bridgemi.com
Posted inUrban Affairs
Giving Detroiters a tax break
Bankruptcy could offer an opportunity to trim taxes for the city’s beleaguered residents, who pay some of the highest income, utility and property taxes in the state.
Posted inUrban Affairs
Detroit taxes friendlier to businesses than to residents
Detroit is in the middle of the pack among the 51 international cities studied for how much of a tax burden they place on businesses.
Posted inUrban Affairs
New private Duggan fund to support 'Detroit’s agenda'
Mayor Kilpatrick’s civic fund helped put him in prison. Gov. Snyder’s NERD fund brought only regret. But Mayor Duggan says his fund will be different.
Posted inUrban Affairs
Mike Duggan and the selling of Detroit 2014
Set a goal, control the numbers, trumpet the results. That’s been Mike Duggan’s leadership playbook for two decades. Has he pushed his luck with Detroit?
Posted inUrban Affairs
Benchmark Detroit: Six months later
Optimism is beginning to percolate across much of the city, as a can-do mayor attempts to make good on bold promises. Hard numbers are more difficult to come by.
Posted inThe Center for Michigan
No consensus for raising – or cutting – taxes in 2014
A majority of residents are sending politicians a clear message that it’s time to spend more on Michigan roads. Even if it means raising taxes.
Posted inTalent & Education
Searchable database: How are your schools funded?
Michigan's school districts and charter academies vary widely in the amount of money each gets from state, local and federal sources. Use our tool to find your own.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Searchable database: How bad are YOUR roads?
In the last eight years, roads have taken a pounding, with Michigan spending the least in the nation on road work. Use our searchable database to find the current condition of roads in your community.
Posted inTalent & Education
My school’s great, it’s Detroit that’s failing – and other myths
Detroit, Flint and other poor, mostly African-American school districts get the bulk of the blame for the state’s declining test scores. But the latest research shows Michigan students of all stripes are falling behind their peers nationally – yes, even white, middle-class students. A Bridge Special Report.