Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Thinking about the following actions the State of Michigan could take to help local governments address retiree health care obligations, to what extent, if any, would you support or oppose creating a state-wide Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) or assisting jurisdictions in creating VEBAs to shift control of retiree health care benefits to employees and/or retirees themselves to help your jurisdiction better meet or reduce its retiree health care obligations? (Among those jurisdictions that reported offering some kind of retiree health care benefits)

Thinking about the following actions the State of Michigan could take to help local governments address retiree health care obligations, to what extent, if any, would you support or oppose creating a state-pooled retiree health care benefits system to help your jurisdiction better meet or reduce its retiree health care obligations? (Among those jurisdictions that reported offering some kind of retiree health care benefits)

Thinking about the following actions the State of Michigan could take to help local governments address retiree health care obligations, to what extent, if any, would you support or oppose facilitating the creation of private health care exchanges (like the public exchanges in the federal Affordable Care Act) for Michigan's local governments to help your jurisdiction better meet or reduce its retiree health care obligations? (Among those jurisdictions that reported offering some kind of retiree health care benefits)

Thinking about the following actions the State of Michigan could take to help local governments address retiree health care obligations, to what extent, if any, would you support or oppose creating a state-wide bonding pool for funding retiree health care benefits to help your jurisdiction better meet or reduce its retiree health care obligations? (Among those jurisdictions that reported offering some kind of retiree health care benefits)

Thinking about the following actions the State of Michigan could take to help local governments address retiree health care obligations, to what extent, if any, would you support or oppose easing credit rating-based restrictions so more jurisdictions could issue bonds for funding retiree health care benefits? (Among those jurisdictions that reported offering some kind of retiree health care benefits)

Thinking beyond state funding, does your jurisdiction currently expend any own-source local revenues on-road and/or bridge maintenance, improvement, or construction—either directly or as matching funds?

Does your jurisdiction use your its general fund to fund its contributions to road and/or bridge maintenance, improvement, or construction? (Among those jurisdictions that report using local revenue sources)

Does your jurisdiction use special assessment(s) to fund its contributions to the road and/or bridge maintenance, improvement, or construction? (Among those jurisdictions that report using local revenue sources)

Does your jurisdiction use millage(s) levied by your jurisdiction to fund its contributions to road and/or bridge maintenance, improvement, or construction? (Among those jurisdictions that report using local revenue sources)

In the last two years, has your jurisdiction tried to raise local funding for roads and/or bridges through a new or renewed road millage(s)?

In the last two years, has your jurisdiction tried to raise local funding for roads and/or bridges through a special assessment(s)?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, would the majority of your jurisdiction's Board/Council support or oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads, through existing options such as millages or potential new options like sales or fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, etc.?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, would the majority of your jurisdiction's citizens support or oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads, through existing options such as millages or potential new options like sales or fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, etc.?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, would the majority of your jurisdiction's business community support or oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads, through existing options such as millages or potential new options like sales or fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, etc.?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, would you personally as local official support or oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads, through existing options such as millages or potential new options like sales or fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, etc.?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for the maintenance, improvement, and construction of roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, do you think the majority of your citizens would support or oppose raising additional local revenue through a special assessment? (Excluding those jurisdictions that report a majority of citizens to oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads)

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for the maintenance, improvement, and construction of roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, do you think the majority of your citizens would support or oppose raising additional local revenue through a local/county millage? (Excluding those jurisdictions that report a majority of citizens to oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads)

First of all, we are interested in your general opinions about the state of ethics and integrity in Michigan government. In general, how would you rate elected and appointed officials in your jurisdiction overall in terms of ethical behavior in their official positions?

First of all, we are interested in your general opinions about the state of ethics and integrity in Michigan government. In general, how would you rate local government elected and appointed officials across the state overall in terms of ethical behavior in their official positions?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that local government elected officials should be required to disclose their financial interests (occupations, sources of income, business interests, property holdings, creditors and debtors, etc.)?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that local government department and agency leaders should be required to disclose their financial interests (occupations, sources of income, business interests, property holdings, creditors and debtors, etc.)?

Does your jurisdiction currently have any policies that prohibit, limit, or require disclosure for honoraria for local elected and/or appointed officials?

Does your jurisdiction currently have any policies that prohibit, limit, or require disclosure for gifts, food, travel, and lodging paid for by outside sources?

Does your jurisdiction’s local government have a code of ethics?

How often, if at all, would you say local elected and/or appointed officials in your jurisdiction’s government face issues that present potential conflicts of interest (that is, where the official or his/her family may receive tangible benefits—personal or business-related—because of actions taken or decisions made as a government official)?