Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Do you believe lack of access to the natural environment is an obstacle to entrepreneurship in your community?

Do you believe unattractive building and landscape design is an obstacle to entrepreneurship in your community?

How familiar, if at all, are you with the "Miplace Partnership Initiative" (or the website Miplace.org), a public-private effort to create more jobs, attract and retain talented workers, and raise incomes—at least in part—through targeted local and regional placemaking activities?

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

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding funding for economic development programs?

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Economic development

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

Does your jurisdiction have one or more special taxing authorities, such as a Downtown Development Authority (DDA), a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, or another similar authority?

In your opinion, overall, have your DDA and/or other special taxing authorities been an asset, a liability, or neither to your jurisdiction's fiscal health to date? (Among those jurisdictions that reported having one or more special tax authorities)

In your opinion, how likely is it that one or more of your special taxing authorities will have serious difficulty repaying their current debt? (Among those jurisdictions that reported having one or more special tax authorities)

In your opinion, are the special taxing authorities' debt obligations a significant fiscal problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem, or not a problem at all for your jurisdiction's fiscal health? (Among those jurisdictions that reported having one or more special tax authorities and did not report them having no debt)

How much do you believe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped to improve economic conditions in your community to date?

How much do you believe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped to improve economic conditions in your community in the long term?

How much do you believe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped to improve economic conditions in the state of Michigan to date?

How much do you believe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped to improve economic conditions in the state of Michigan in the long term?

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

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding funding for economic development programs?

Is your jurisdiction engaged in economic gardening?

[for jurisdictions who report they do currently engage in economic gardening] In terms of supporting existing businesses in your community, has your jurisdiction conducted workforce development or training programs?

[for jurisdictions who report they do currently engage in economic gardening] In terms of supporting existing businesses in your community, has your jurisdiction developed traditional infrastructure?

[for jurisdictions who report they do currently engage in economic gardening] In terms of supporting existing businesses in your community, has your jurisdiction developed IT infrastructure?

[for jurisdictions who report they do currently engage in economic gardening] In terms of supporting existing businesses in your community, has your jurisdiction fostered networking among local businesses?

[for jurisdictions who report they do currently engage in economic gardening] In terms of supporting existing businesses in your community, has your jurisdiction helped local businesses with social networking online?

[for jurisdictions who report they do currently engage in economic gardening] In terms of supporting existing businesses in your community, has your jurisdiction provided or fostered information access to markets, customers, or competitors?

[for jurisdictions who report they do currently engage in economic gardening] In terms of supporting existing businesses in your community, has your jurisdiction provided or fostered access to capital?