Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Some local governments adopt formal policies regarding financial planning and management, while others take a more informal approach. Below is a list of recommendations from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Thinking across your jurisdiction's various types of funds, generally speaking, please identify which of the following descriptions most closely represents your government's current policies or practices, if any, for unpredictable revenues (policy(s) on the use of unpredictable revenues (e.g., interest income, legal settlements, etc.).

Some local governments adopt formal policies regarding financial planning and management, while others take a more informal approach. Below is a list of recommendations from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Thinking across your jurisdiction's various types of funds, generally speaking, please identify which of the following descriptions most closely represents your government's current policies or practices, if any, for general fund balances (policy(s) that specify the level of unrestricted fund balance that should be maintained in the general fund).

Some local governments adopt formal policies regarding financial planning and management, while others take a more informal approach. Below is a list of recommendations from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

Some local governments adopt formal policies regarding financial planning and management, while others take a more informal approach. Below is a list of recommendations from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Thinking across your jurisdiction's various types of funds, generally speaking, please identify which of the following descriptions most closely represents your government's current policies or practices, if any, for debt level and capacity (policy(s) on the maximum amount of debt and debt service that should be outstanding at any time (beyond state requirements)).

Some local governments adopt formal policies regarding financial planning and management, while others take a more informal approach. Below is a list of recommendations from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Thinking across your jurisdiction's various types of funds, generally speaking, please identify which of the following descriptions most closely represents your government's current policies or practices, if any, for balanced budget policy (commitment to a balanced budget and disclosure when deviations occur (beyond state requirements)).

We're interested in how your local government's approach to financial management policies and practices may have changed over time. We know that different policies may be more or less formal, but thinking about your jurisdiction's financial management policies and practices overall, would you say in the last five years they have become more formalized, less formalized, or neither?

How closely are you following issues surrounding Detroit's bankruptcy filing?

Based on what you know now, in general, to what extent do you agree or disagree that, overall, Detroit's bankruptcy filing was the right thing to do?

Based on what you know now, in general, to what extent do you agree or disagree that bankruptcy will help Detroit restructure and cut costs, and therefore be in a better long term financial position?

Based on what you know now, in general, to what extent do you agree or disagree that the bankruptcy process won't result in better policy making or management for the City of Detroit in the long run?

Based on what you know now, in general, to what extent do you agree or disagree that Detroit's filing will make bankruptcies more likely among other struggling Michigan local governments?

Based on what you know now, in general, to what extent do you agree or disagree that the State of Michigan should provide new financial assistance to help Detroit?

Based on what you know now, in general, to what extent do you agree or disagree that the federal government should provide new financial assistance to help Detroit?

Based on what you know now, in general, to what extent do you agree or disagree that Detroit's fiscal health is important to Michigan's overall fiscal health?

What overall impact, if any, do you think Detroit's bankruptcy filing has had or will have on Michigan's reputation?

What overall impact, if any, do you think Detroit's bankruptcy filing has had or will have on the confidence of Michigan citizens in the state's future?

What overall impact, if any, do you think Detroit's bankruptcy filing has had or will have on Michigan's ability to attract tourism and conventions?

What overall impact, if any, do you think Detroit's bankruptcy filing has had or will have on the ability of Michigan's local governments to attract and retain talented public employees?

What overall impact, if any, do you think Detroit's bankruptcy filing has had or will have on local government home rule and discretion under Michigan state law?

What overall impact, if any, do you think Detroit's bankruptcy filing has had or will have on Michigan local governments' cost of borrowing through issuing debt in the near term?

What overall impact, if any, do you think Detroit's bankruptcy filing has had or will have on your jurisdiction's overall fiscal health?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to cuts in repayments to the jurisdiction's bondholders in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to cuts to pensions of the jurisdiction's current retirees in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to cuts to fringe benefits (health care, etc.) of the jurisdiction's current retirees in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to cuts to compensation (pay rates and/or fringe benefits) for the jurisdiction's current employees in the course of bankruptcy?