Is the state out of money? No, if it can give businesses a $1.8 billion tax break, it's not out of money. But you're right, Detroit is only one among hundreds of communities "promised" money that never came. In Detroit's case, the state forced the city to give up income tax revenue in exchange for revenue sharing dollars that were later cut off. In that way, Detroit is different than everyone else. But there's no way Detroit could get money without an uproar from every other community that lost out too demanding their share as well. Easier to claim that there's no money and leave Detroit and every other community to fend for themselves.