Services
Industries
Education
Michigan State University, B.A. Accounting, 1981
Wayne State University, J.D., 1984
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Jim Crowley is a member of the Firm's Public Finance Practice Group and concentrates his practice in the areas of school finance, election and general school business law.
Jim has extensive experience in school finance and regularly serves as bond counsel, note counsel and disclosure counsel for public schools, public school academies, and other issuers. In these capacities, he has served as counsel relating to general obligation, unlimited and limited tax bond financings, energy conservation project financings, tax-credit bond financings, installment purchase agreements, finance leases and operating cash-flow borrowings including state aid notes, tax anticipation notes, and lines of credit.
In addition to serving as bond and note counsel in school financing transactions, Jim also focuses on such areas as elections, campaign finance compliance, state and federal tax issues, general school finance (budgets, revenue sources and cash flow), general school business matters and employee benefits.
With respect to school elections, Jim has extensive experience with elections for school bond, operating tax (i.e. renewals, replacements and Headlee restorations) and sinking fund proposals.
Jim regularly assists public schools with the establishment and maintenance of tax-exempt organizations which include educational foundations, boosters clubs and other organizations affiliated with the public school.
Honors
Leading Lawyers, Public Finance Law, School Law, 2017–present
Professional Activities
National Association of Bond Lawyers
American Bar Association
The Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers
Speeches
"Sales Tax Obligations for Michigan Public Schools," Michigan School Business Officials Annual Conference, April 25, 2024
"School Elections Do's and Don'ts Under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act," Michigan School Business Officials Annual Conference, April 25, 2024
"Permissible Expenditures: Strategies to Comply and Flow Chart Practice Guide," Michigan School Business Officials Annual Conference, April 25, 2024
"Capital Funding Alternatives," Co-Presenter with Alan Szuma, Michigan School Business Officials Annual Conference, April 24, 2024
"School Ballot Proposals and Elections: Legal Requirements, Timing, Strategy and More," Michigan School Business Officials 2023 Annual Conference
Publications
"Capital Improvement Financing for Michigan Public Schools," co-authored with Kristen Howard and Amanda Van Dusen, Michigan Bar Journal, February 2021