Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding privatizing or contracting out of services?

When does your jurisdiction's fiscal year end?

Thinking about your jurisdiction's last fiscal year, were general fund revenues higher or lower than what they were projected to be in its originally adopted general fund budget?

Thinking about your jurisdiction's last fiscal year, were general fund expenditures higher or lower than what they were projected to be in its originally adopted general fund budget?

Different local jurisdictions manage their unreserved general fund balances in different ways depending on their specific circumstances. Despite these differences, we're interested in tracking overall changes in these balances over time. Approximately what was your jurisdiction's unreserved/unassigned 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?

Thinking about the overall fiscal stress of your jurisdiction today and what you expect it to be down the road - including any future financial obligations it may have - on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is the best: perfect fiscal health and 10 is the worst: fiscal crisis, how would you rate your jurisdiction's overall fiscal stress as you expect it to be five years from now?

Regardless of whether or not your jurisdiction expects to have a budget surplus this year, in your opinion, what would be the highest priority for using any potential surplus (if it had one) according to the following groups or individuals? Do you think that they would prefer to spend the budget surplus on public services or infrastructure, save that money for future use, use it to pay down any debt your jurisdiction may have, or reduce taxes? The majority of your jurisdiction's Board/Council would prefer to...

Regardless of whether or not your jurisdiction expects to have a budget surplus this year, in your opinion, what would be the highest priority for using any potential surplus (if it had one) according to the following groups or individuals? Do you think that they would prefer to spend the budget surplus on public services or infrastructure, save that money for future use, use it to pay down any debt your jurisdiction may have, or reduce taxes? The majority of your jurisdiction's citizens would prefer to...

Regardless of whether or not your jurisdiction expects to have a budget surplus this year, in your opinion, what would be the highest priority for using any potential surplus (if it had one) according to the following groups or individuals? Do you think that they would prefer to spend the budget surplus on public services or infrastructure, save that money for future use, use it to pay down any debt your jurisdiction may have, or reduce taxes? You personally in your role as a local official would prefer to...

Now, regardless of whether or not your jurisdiction expects to have a budget deficit this year, in your opinion, what would be the preferred method for eliminating any potential deficit (if it had one) according to the following groups or individuals? Do you think that they would prefer to cut costs/services, increase taxes, use any savings your jurisdiction may have or increase debt (if legally allowable)? The majority of your jurisdiction's Board/Council would prefer to...

Now, regardless of whether or not your jurisdiction expects to have a budget deficit this year, in your opinion, what would be the preferred method for eliminating any potential deficit (if it had one) according to the following groups or individuals? Do you think that they would prefer to cut costs/services, increase taxes, use any savings your jurisdiction may have or increase debt (if legally allowable)? The majority of your jurisdiction's citizens would prefer to...

Now, regardless of whether or not your jurisdiction expects to have a budget deficit this year, in your opinion, what would be the preferred method for eliminating any potential deficit (if it had one) according to the following groups or individuals? Do you think that they would prefer to cut costs/services, increase taxes, use any savings your jurisdiction may have or increase debt (if legally allowable)? You personally in your role as a local official would prefer to...

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

Thinking about the financial needs of your jurisdiction, 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?

Thinking about the financial needs of your jurisdiction, 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?

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether — in your opinion — there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to revenue from property taxes.

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether in your opinion there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to revenue from fees for services, licenses, transfers, etc.

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether in your opinion there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to your jurisdiction's amount of debt.

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether in your opinion there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to your jurisdiction's ability to repay its debt.

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether in your opinion there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to the amount of federal aid to your jurisdiction.

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether in your opinion there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to the amount of state aid to your jurisdiction.

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether in your opinion there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to tax delinquencies in your jurisdiction.

Comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to its previous fiscal year, please consider the ways the following items have changed. Indicate whether in your opinion there has been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year to home foreclosures in your jurisdiction.