Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to cuts to, or privatization of, some public services to reduce costs in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to increasing service sharing with other governments to reduce costs in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to selling some jurisdiction assets (e.g., parkland, buildings, infrastructure, art holdings, etc.) in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to raising local revenue through increased taxes or fees in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to financial assistance from the state government in the course of bankruptcy?

Although conditions in individual jurisdictions will vary, in your opinion, what priority should ultimately be given to financial assistance from the federal government in the course of bankruptcy?

During the next twelve months, do you think your community will have good times financially, or bad times financially?

Would you say that your unit of government is less able or better able to meet its financial needs in this fiscal year compared to the last fiscal year?

Would you say that your unit of government is less able or better able to meet its financial needs in the next fiscal year compared to this fiscal year?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in your jurisdiction's amount of debt?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in your jurisdiction's ability to repay its debt?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the amount of federal aid to your jurisdiction?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the population of your jurisdiction?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding reliance on general fund balance?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding reliance on "rainy day" funds?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding the amount of debt?

In your opinion, overall, have the union(s) that represent your employees been an asset, a liability, or neither, to your jurisdiction's fiscal health in the last 12 months?

In your opinion, overall, have the union(s) that represent your employees been an asset, a liability, or neither, to your jurisdiction's overall performance in the last 12 months?

What overall impact, if any, do you believe the Right-To-Work laws will have over time on the fiscal health of your local government?

Approximately what was your jurisdiction's unreserved general fund balance as a percentage of general fund expenditures at the end of its last fiscal year?

Thinking about your jurisdiction's fiscal needs, overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's unreserved general fund balance to be too high, about right, or too low?

In your opinion, is your jurisdiction's cash flow and its ability to pay bills in a timely manner a significant fiscal problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem, or not a problem at all?

On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is "perfect fiscal health" and 10 is "fiscal crisis" how would you rate your jurisdiction's overall fiscal health today?

On a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is "perfect fiscal health" and 10 is "fiscal crisis," how would you rate your jurisdiction's overall fiscal health as you expect it to be five years from now?

In your opinion, overall, are the property-tax exempt organizations or parcels in your jurisdiction an asset, a liability, or both to your jurisdiction's current fiscal health? (Among jurisdictions reporting the existence of at least one property-tax exempt organization or parcel within them)