Spring 2021 Michigan Public Policy Survey Homepage

THE SPRING 2021 MICHIGAN PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY

• Topics:
  • Annual tracking items for fiscal, budget, operation policies; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); local government use of online technology; Michigan's new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission; job approval evaluations for Governor, Michigan Legislature, President, and U.S. Congress; right direction vs. wrong track for state, and country; civic  discourse; the state of democracy; confidence in institutions
• Methodology:
  • This survey ran from April 5 to June 7, 2021 and received responses from 73% of jurisdictions.
• Survey questionnaire
• Pre-run data tables
• Publications:
  • Local Government Leaders’ Confidence in Institutions of Democracy (September 2022)
  • Local leaders’ concerns about Michigan’s direction spike, while evaluations of state leaders sink over the past year (July 2021)
  • Local leaders’ views on Michigan’s initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Spring 2021 (August 2021)
  • Michigan local governments report fewer economic challenges one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe efforts to support local businesses (September 2021)
  • The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Michigan communities and local governments (October 2021)
  • Michigan local officials’ assessments of American democracy at the state and federal levels decline sharply (November 2021)
  • Michigan local government officials report improved fiscal health after a year of COVID-19, but not yet back to pre-pandemic levels (December 2021)
  • Michigan local leaders report little change in the tone of civic discourse in their communities, but are concerned about local impacts of increasingly hostile national partisan politics (January 2022)
  • Internet presence among Michigan local governments: websites, online services, and experience with virtual meetings (May 2022)
• Presentations:
  • April 2022 – MTA Annual Educational Conference and Expo – The Health of Michigan Democracy: Insights from Township Officials (PowerPoint as PDF)

Input on questionnaire design for the Spring 2021 MPPS was provided by the following people:

• Matt Grossmann, Michigan State University
• Stephanie Leiser, University of Michigan
• Eric Lupher, Citizens Research Council of Michigan
• Derek Melot, Michigan Assocation of Counties
• Summer Minnick, Michigan Municipal League
• Neil Sheridan, Michigan Townships Association
• Mark Wyckoff, Michigan State University

The final questionnaire design reflects decisions made by the CLOSUP MPPS staff, which may not represent the views of advisory committee members or others who provided input.