Michigan Public Policy Survey

A unique in the nation survey of local government leaders
Frequently asked questions

Launched in the wake of the Great Recession in 2009, the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) is the nation's first ongoing survey of local leaders from all general purpose jurisdictions across an entire state. In Michigan, this comprises the leaders of 1,856 counties, cities, townships, and villages. The program fills an important information gap in the policymaking process. While we knew the policy priorities and views of the state's businesses and citizens from other surveys, before the MPPS we knew very little about the views of the local officials who are so important to the economies and community life throughout Michigan. 

Covering a wide variety of today's most important issues, the biannual surveys provide long-term tracking of core fiscal, budgetary, and operational policy over time—as well as covering new issues on each survey wave, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, infrastructure, trust in government, police-community relations, economic development strategies, local government union issues, workforce development, intergovernmental collaboration, energy and environment, and much more. 
 
The MPPS is conducted in partnership with the Michigan Association of Counties, Michigan Municipal League, and Michigan Townships Association. 
 

Michigan Capital Building

MPPS reports

MPPS reports are used by local and state policymakers and practitioners, nonprofit organizations, citizen groups, the media and the academic community. The MPPS reports have been viewed more than 30,000 times.
See all MPPS reports

The MPPS data have been used to inform lawmakers when the Michigan Townships Association testified on bills. The outcome is legislation that better serves the public interest, accomplishes its intended objective, and avoids unintended outcomes.

Larry Merrill, senior consultant, Public Policy Associates and former executive director of the Michigan Townships Association
I appreciate the professional work of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) and the information included in their public policy survey reports. The survey data is gathered, assembled, and shared logically in a manner that allows for practical application. I focus on the summary and then follow on to the detailed supporting data and illustrative charts. The survey findings and work of CLOSUP are critical tools in our policy development toolbox. We use it in our local municipality to inform, discuss, guide, and develop appropriate policies.

Bud Norman

Administrator/Controller, Branch County
Local government fiscal outlook in Michigan a mixed picture: near-term improvement, long-term challenges
Wages and Benefits

MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan local government officials’ assessments of workforce wages and benefits

This policy brief presents Michigan local government leaders' assessments regarding their governments’ employee pay and fringe benefit rates. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the spring 2022 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS)— conducted between April 4 and June 6, 2022.
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City hall
Fiscal Health Report

Michigan local leaders report near-term improvements in fiscal health, especially in large jurisdictions, yet long-term concerns increase

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of their jurisdictions’ fiscal conditions and the actions they plan to take in the coming year given their financial situations. The findings are based on responses from 14 statewide survey waves of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) conducted annually each spring from 2009 through 2022. The Spring 2022 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) was conducted between April 4 – June 6, 2022.
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Functioning of Democracy

Michigan local leaders’ concerns about U.S. democracy at state and federal levels ease somewhat, but remain grim

This report presents local government leaders’ views regarding the functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions, the State of Michigan, and the United States as a whole. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Spring 2022 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), conducted between April 4 and June 6, 2022, and includes comparisons to Spring 2020 and 2021 wave responses.
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Student reading
An extensive collection of more than a decade of MPPS questions and data tables is available for easy use by researchers, policymakers, students, journalists, and anyone else interested in learning more about local government issues and perspectives.

Surveys conducted

25

The MPPS has conducted 25 surveys of Michigan’s local governments

Response rate

70%+

Since 2012, more than 70% of Michigan’s 1,856 local governments have responded to each MPPS survey

Questions asked

2640

The MPPS has an extensive database of every question asked since the survey began in 2009

More resources

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