LANSING, MI — Jun 11, 2026: Public Policy Associates (PPA) is launching a limited series of policy briefs to be released throughout the rest of 2026. This series aims to shape critical public policy discussions to help the State of Michigan operate more effectively. The initiative officially kicks off with the release of its inaugural brief, Michigan’s Budget Breakdown: Lessons and Recommendations from FY 2026.
Co-authored by Maddie Thomas, Daniel J. Quinn, Ph.D., and Rob Fowler, the brief offers a look into Michigan’s constitutional and statutory budget procedures. It starts with an objective review of the tumultuous aspects of the FY 2026 budget deliberations, draws lessons from Michigan’s history, and outlines potential recommendations to restore accountability and transparency to the process.
“In my 25 years of working in Michigan politics, I have never seen a budget process quite like last year,” said Rob Fowler, CEO of Public Policy Associates. “Our budget process seems to be failing to meet the basic pillars of transparent and deliberative bipartisan governance. Our goal in this work is not to point fingers or place blame, but to provide a path forward to a more engaging and responsive process. When we set partisan differences aside, we can create intentional reforms and meaningful change.”
Data-Driven, Unbiased Research for Impactful Change
PPA’s series is driven by our unwavering commitment to its core vision: “Better Public Policy for a Better World.” Each publication will feature rigorous, nonpartisan research informed by reliable data and objective facts. By tackling complex structural and governance challenges, PPA aims to elevate the standard of public and civic discourse and inspire improvements that support good decisions.
The debut brief introduces several potential state-level policy solutions modeled after successful frameworks across the nation, intended to modernize Michigan’s legislative operations and governance, including:
- No Budget, No Pay Legislation: Creating direct financial accountability for lawmakers during a budget impasse.
- Biennial Budget Cycles: Shifting from a one-year to a two-year budget cycle to grant lawmakers more focus on non-budgetary priorities.
- Fiscal Year Realignment: Shifting the state’s fiscal timeline to align more closely with local school calendars.
- Automatic Continuing Resolutions: Establishing stopgap funding structures to shield critical public programs from sudden funding lapses.
About Public Policy Associates
Public Policy Associates (PPA) is a research, evaluation, and consulting firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Partnering with leaders across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors, PPA delivers expert research, evaluation, and strategic insights designed to solve Michigan’s complex challenges and cultivate better public policy for a better world.
To read the first policy brief or to learn more about the limited series, visit publicpolicy.com. Or click here.
For more information about PPA’s suite of services, please contact Dr. Quinn at dquinn@publicpolicy.com.