State Rep. Ann Bollin today voted in support of a bipartisan plan to provide ongoing, dedicated funding to local law enforcement and violence prevention efforts across Michigan — a move she says will strengthen public safety in communities throughout Livingston and Oakland counties.

The plan, approved with strong bipartisan support in the House, creates the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund, which will distribute $115 million annually to support local police departments and violence prevention programs.

“Keeping our communities safe is one of the most important responsibilities we have, and that means making sure law enforcement has the support they need,” said Bollin, R-Brighton Township. “This plan doesn’t take the place of what’s already being invested locally — it adds to it. That means more officers, better equipment, and stronger support for crime prevention and victims’ services.”

The plan comes as Michigan continues to face serious public safety challenges. Four of the 20 most violent cities in the country are in Michigan. Meanwhile, police departments are struggling to hire and retain officers and are often forced to work with outdated equipment and limited tools.

House Bills 4260 and 4261 establish the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund, allocating $115 million in annual sales tax revenue to support local law enforcement and violence prevention efforts. Of this, $72 million would be distributed to cities, villages, and townships based on their share of violent crime over the previous three years. These funds must be used exclusively for public safety, crime investigation, or violence prevention efforts, and cannot replace existing local funding.

Locally, the city of Novi would receive an additional $91,600, Wixom would receive $40,300, and Commerce Township would receive $39,800 under the plan. Brighton, Howell, and other communities with lower crime rates would receive smaller amounts of funding.

The plan also sets aside $40 million for county sheriff’s offices, distributed according to the size of each county’s police force. If a county provides local police services for a township, the township’s share of funding would go to the sheriff’s office.

“This is a long-term, sustainable solution that gets critical resources directly into the hands of those working to keep our neighborhoods safe,” Bollin said. “I was proud to support it, and I’ll keep working to ensure our local law enforcement agencies are equipped to protect and serve.”

House Bills 4260 and 4261 now advance to the Michigan Senate for further consideration.