Southfield, Lathrup Village Mayors celebrate infrastructure investment
LANSING, Mich. (July 23, 2024) — Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) and Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) championed major local infrastructure projects in the FY 2025 state budget signed today by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
In addition to $4 million to Southfield and $2 million to Lathrup Village for roads and water systems, the budget also shores up the revenue sharing formula upon which local communities depend to fund essential services.
“Each budget cycle — this year, my tenth — I’ve been a leading voice for local communities to ensure they have the resources they need. I am so proud to support a budget that makes a significant investment in Michigan’s cities, villages, and townships,” said Sen. Moss. “We are delivering tangible results for our district, while also making important systemic changes to our local funding formula by beginning the work to create a dedicated and predictable stream of revenue. This underscores our commitment to improving the quality of life for our residents by addressing critical needs back home.”
The Democratic majority diligently crafted a budget that passed the Michigan Senate and House in late June and takes effect at the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, strengthening the state and supporting every resident.
“I’m excited we passed a budget that prioritizes strong local investments into our hometowns,” said Rep. Hoskins. “What matters most is this budget lowers costs for families, ensuring each and every child in Michigan gets an equal shot at a bright future. We are also continuing to invest in economic development and community revitalization to create a stronger state to call home, in this way we are truly investing in the people of Michigan.”
The $4 million secured for Southfield by Sen. Moss and Rep. Hoskins will aid in the reconstruction of Mt. Vernon St. from Northwestern Hwy. (M-10) to Greenfield Rd. This project will improve the condition of an increasingly worn road in the city, ensuring a safer and more efficient drive for the residents who use it daily.
“Southfield greatly appreciates Sen. Moss and Rep. Hoskins’ diligence in securing additional funding for local roads,” said Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver. “Our city remains a vibrant place to work, live, and play, but this also means our roads are highly utilized and need further upgrades. We continue to prioritize investment in our infrastructure and the state support to repair Mt. Vernon will benefit everyone who commutes around Southfield.”
The $2 million in funding secured for Lathrup Village will be utilized to address water mains that were originally installed in the late 1920s, helping improve water flow and reliability throughout the city’s northern half, which services approximately 1,200 residential homes and 50 businesses. The project will significantly increase fire protection and fire flow rates due to the increased pipe size and elimination of undersized, tuberculation-filled cast iron water mains.
“I am thrilled and immensely grateful to Sen. Moss and Rep. Hoskins for securing $2 million for infrastructure projects in Lathrup Village,” said Lathrup Village Mayor Kelly Garrett. “This funding is a critical investment that will significantly enhance our community’s growth and sustainability. While this funding is greatly appreciated, it also underscores the urgent need for increased state revenue sharing. By bolstering revenue allocations, we can ensure that cities like Lathrup Village gain the financial stability necessary to thrive independently and serve our residents effectively.”
Under the 2025 State Budget, Senate Democrats prioritized local revenue sharing by returning to the three-factor system Michigan adopted in 1998, which was replaced just four years later by a “uniform reductions” method that excluded nearly 1,200 communities from receiving essential resources. By reinstating the three-factor revenue formula through Senate Bill 760, all Cities, Villages, and Townships (CVTs) would start receiving revenue sharing payments, including the ~1,200 communities previously excluded by the 2002 changes.
“I’m a former city councilman who first ran for the Legislature to fix our broken municipal finance system,” Sen. Moss said. “I now co-chair a legislative caucus of former city officials – Republicans and Democrats – who have made revenue sharing a priority. We are finally heading in the right direction to make our local communities whole.”
The Senate Democratic Majority remains committed to championing the needs of Michiganders in an ongoing effort to build a better state for all.
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