Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Regardless of whether or not your jurisdiction's retiree health care obligations are currently fully funded, in your opinion, are these 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 offering some kind of retiree health care benefits)

Looking ahead, how concerned are you, if at all, that your jurisdiction will not be able to fulfill its health care benefit obligations to its retirees? (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 prohibiting jurisdictions from providing retiree health care benefits for future retirees 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 setting hard caps (i.e., percentage or dollar figure) on jurisdictions' contributions to retiree health care costs 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 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)

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 pay rates for your jurisdiction's employee wages and salaries.

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 cost of your jurisdiction's employee pensions.

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 cost of your jurisdiction's current employee health benefits.

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 cost of your jurisdiction's retired employee health benefits.

Now, comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to the next fiscal year, please indicate which actions your jurisdiction has taken or is likely to take regarding employee pay rates.

Now, comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to the next fiscal year, please indicate which actions your jurisdiction has taken or is likely to take regarding employees' share of premiums, deductibles and/or co-pays on health insurance.

Now, comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to the next fiscal year, please indicate which actions your jurisdiction has taken or is likely to take regarding employees' share of contributions to retirement funds.

Now, comparing your jurisdiction's current fiscal year to the next fiscal year, please indicate which actions your jurisdiction has taken or is likely to take regarding retirees' share of premiums, deductibles, and/or co-pays on health insurance.

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's pay rate(s) for new hires to be too high, about right, or too low?

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's pay rate(s) for current employees to be too high, about right, or too low?

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's pay rate(s) for current elected officials to be too high, about right, or too low?

Does your jurisdiction provide any fringe benefits (i.e., health care, dental, vision, life insurance, etc.) to new hires?

Does your jurisdiction provide any fringe benefits (i.e., health care, dental, vision, life insurance, etc.) to current employees?

Does your jurisdiction provide any fringe benefits (i.e., health care, dental, vision, life insurance, etc.) to current elected officials?

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's fringe benefits package(s) - or lack thereof - for new hires to be too generous, about right, or not generous enough?

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's fringe benefits package(s) - or lack thereof - for current employees to be too generous, about right, or not generous enough?