Asked and Answered
Grand Rapids Press Editor Paul Keep asked for suggestions on how to "fix" Michigan. Mackinac Center scholars responded with two, both involving law enforcement, and will weigh in with more ideas as The Press begins a 10-month series focusing on Michigan's future.
The first idea is to devolve State Police road patrols to county sheriff's deputies, which would save taxpayers about $65 million a year. The savings come about because a county deputy sheriff costs roughly $20,000 less per year in wages and benefits compared to state troopers.
The second idea is privatization of some or all state prisons. Center analysts have examined this issue several times. Read more about it here, here, and here.
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