Every month, the state of Michigan pays $4 million to lease 5,783 vehicles.

Michigan owned 4,800 vehicles as of February 2025, according to documents obtained through a record request from the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget.

The average monthly payment for leased vehicles is $692.

But the state’s lease payments on 45 vehicles exceed $2,000 per month.

For more than 1,000 vehicles, Michigan pays more than $1,000 monthly.

Each of the Big Three automakers is represented in the state’s fleet. Michigan employees drive 5,235 Chevrolets, 2,632 Fords and 1,355 Dodge vehicles. That leaves 448 Chryslers, 428 Jeeps, 41 GMCs, 11 BMW motorcycles, eight RAMs, and four Buicks.

Sedans, SUVs and minivans are among the vehicles the state uses, but there are also buses to transport prisoners, forklifts, tractors, gators, trailers, mowers, backhoes and snow blowers.

The highest-cost monthly lease is for a Caterpillar Sonic drill rig geoprobe, at $10,840 monthly or $130,080 yearly.

A public information officer from the Department of Natural Resources told Michigan Capitol Confidential that it’s possible his department is the one that leased the equipment.

“As far as I can tell right now, the department does not own this piece of equipment,” Ed Golder told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email. But he added, “It’s possible we have leased this piece of equipment in the past.”

The drill collects geological samples and can monitor well installation. Michigan has more than 1 million residential private wells, according to the state health department.

The state spends more than $166,000 annually on parts and equipment for the drill, according to a state contract.

The state owns or leases 30 electric vehicles, CapCon reported in February.

Michigan’s local governments are using zoning ordinances to keep dollar stores from opening.

Several local governments in rural areas require additional permits for any store that would sell primarily low-cost goods. These governments include Maple City and Empire in Leelanau County and Benzonia in Benzie County.

Almira, in Benzie County, requires any building over 5,000 square feet to receive a special land use permit.

The rule limiting commercial structures to 5,000 square feet is meant to “maintain the character of our primarily residential township,” Almira zoning administrator Kate Preston told Michigan Capitol Confidential in an email.

“Commercial and residential uses are often adjacent in Almira, and maintaining the value of our residential means managing the impact of our commercial. We’re a small township, and a small footprint commercial fits in better. This restriction applies to all commercial enterprises and isn't intended to restrict any particular business or type of business.”

In Empire, any building over 2,999 square feet needs a special land use permit. Any building over 5,000 square feet requires a variance. Meanwhile, Benzonia’s ordinance requires anyone who constructs a building over 5,000 square feet to get a special land use permit.

Long Lake Charter Township, in Grand Traverse County, restricts buildings that require a permit to 7,500 square feet. Buildings larger than 7,500 square feet need a conditional use permit.

The area has a Dollar General that moved in about two years ago, Supervisor Ron Lemcool said in a phone interview.

Dollar store critics compare the stores to a disease that “reveals the worst of capitalism,” Jarrett Skorup, the Mackinac Center’s vice president for marketing and communications, wrote in a March story for Reason magazine.

Using zoning to prevent chain stores from serving local communities will only undermine job growth, investment, and the needs of local residents, Daniel J. Smith, an economics professor at Middle Tennessee State University, told CapCon in an email.

“Corporate chain stores, including dollar stores, are eyeing rural Michigan communities as prime locations to establish new outlets, driven by their ability to meet the practical needs of residents,” Smith wrote. “These stores offer convenience for locals, eliminating the need for frequent trips into town to replace a spilled carton of milk or pick up medicine for a child’s fever. This accessibility enhances the appeal of living in these areas, allowing residents to fully embrace the charm of Michigan’s picturesque countryside.”

Leelanau County is the only one of Michigan’s 83 counties that doesn’t have a Dollar General.

“Fewer car trips benefit not only the environment and residents’ wallets but also bolster local economies,” Smith wrote. “By providing affordable, readily available goods, these stores create stable job opportunities for community members. Moreover, their steady stream of customers can spark additional development, paving the way for nearby businesses like barbershops or restaurants to thrive. With more time and disposable income, consumers are better positioned to support these local ventures, fostering a cycle of growth and opportunity.”

Living during high inflation means customers need their dollars to stretch further, Dollar General told CapCon in an email.

“We believe restrictive measures harm communities by limiting customer choice, convenience and affordability, particularly in inflationary times, and forcing customers to travel farther and/or spend more to access basic household and food items,” a spokesperson wrote.

“We believe the addition of each Dollar General provides positive economic benefits including additional access to affordable products for customers; the creation of new jobs for local residents and career development opportunities for our employees; the generation of additional tax revenue for the city; and the ability for local nonprofits, schools and libraries to apply for literacy and education grants through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.”