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In the Media

Machine-readable disclosure has 'revolutionized' Flint's financial reports, CFO says

Jan 25, 2023 The Bond Buyer

For Flint, Michigan, new machine-readable disclosure standards which have sparked controversy across the muni market represent a "quantum leap" for the city's finances, its CFO said. "If you're asking me, it's about time that we modernize and...

In the Media

Indignation as Michigan judge drops Flint water charges against GOP ex-Gov Snyder

Dec 12, 2022 nationofchange.org

Environmental justice advocates on Friday condemned a move by a district judge in Michigan to drop two misdemeanor charges against former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder in connection with the 2014 Flint water crisis that killed dozens of residents of...

In the Media

Michigan Judge Drops Flint Water Charges Against Ex-Gov Snyder, Sparking Outrage

Dec 10, 2022 Truthout.org

In the Media

Indignation as Michigan Judge Drops Flint Water Charges Against GOP Ex-Gov Snyder

Dec 10, 2022 CommonDreams.org

In the Media

A Chance to Make Government Financial Data Transparent and User-Friendly

Dec 7, 2022 Governing.com

Federal legislation requiring machine-readable reporting has its critics, but it would go a long way toward modernizing how data is collected, used and shared. It also could lower borrowing costs for states and...

MPPS in the news

Commentary: Political violence has no place in our elections

Oct 24, 2022 Crain's Detroit Business

Elections are contentious, but in recent years they have gotten uglier, with the rise in political violence polluting our...

MPPS in the news

Survey examines election security, disinformation

Oct 12, 2022 Michigan Today

Michigan township and city officials are now even more confident in their jurisdiction’s election security and ability to administer an accurate election than when asked a similar question in 2020, when confidence was already high, according to...

In the Media

Conspiracy theorists flood the election process, set sights on monitoring ballot drop boxes

Oct 4, 2022 Raw Story

In the 2020 presidential election, there were upwards of 150 poll workers in Detroit. Then came the onslaught of right-wing conspiracy theories and lies that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump – and the baseless claim...

MPPS in the news

Conspiracy theorists flood the election process, set sights on monitoring ballot drop boxes

Oct 3, 2022 Michigan Advance

MPPS in the news

Conspiracy theorists flood the election process, set sights on monitoring ballot drop boxes

Oct 3, 2022 KPVI NBC TV 6

In the 2020 presidential election, there were upwards of 150 poll workers in...

MPPS in the news

State of the State Podcast - segment on election administration findings from the MPPS

Sep 23, 2022 MSU IPPSR State of the State Podcast

IPPSR's State of the State podcast had Debra Horner on to review findings from the Spring 2022 MPPS survey on local leaders' views about the upcoming November 2022...

MPPS in the news

New U of M survey finds high election confidence among local Michigan officials

Sep 23, 2022 Michigan Radio

The University of Michigan Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) surveyed 1,856 local governments in Michigan about confidence in midterm election security. 85% of respondents said they are “very confident” that their jurisdiction’s...

In the Media

Financial reporting bill in Senate has muni lobby on edge

Sep 19, 2022 The Bond Buyer

The municipal market is rattled by legislation pending before the Senate that would require governments to standardize their financial reports, with opponents warning it would be onerous and costly and ultimately could shrink tax-exempt...

MPPS in the news

'We all hate each other': Lucido-Hackel battle embroils Macomb County government

Aug 30, 2022 The Detroit News

Macomb County has become embroiled in a fight between longtime county Executive Mark Hackel and new Prosecuting Attorney Peter Lucido that includes a court battle over prosecutor's office jobs and an investigation into allegations of sexual...

MPPS in the news

UM survey: Michigan communities prioritize infrastructure with ARPA funds

Aug 24, 2022 Darik.news

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor reported in a new survey of Michigan local government leaders that the top spending priorities for federal American Rescue Planning Act (ARPA) funding are on capital improvements, infrastructure and public...

MPPS in the news

U-M Survey: Michigan Communities Prioritize Infrastructure with ARPA Funds

Aug 24, 2022 DBusiness.com

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor reported in a new survey of Michigan’s local government leaders that the top spending priorities for the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding are on capital improvements, infrastructure, and public...

MPPS in the news

Survey: Public buildings, parks top priority list for Michigan officials spending COVID relief funds

Jul 29, 2022 Michigan Radio

A new University of Michigan survey shows more than half of local governments in Michigan plan to spend federal COVID-relief funds on public buildings and parks. Michigan towns, counties and cities are receiving billions of dollars from the federal...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: A survey of Michigan local government leaders on American Rescue Plan Act funding and uses

Jul 28, 2022

A new policy brief presents Michigan local government leaders’ views on the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), including plans for spending the funds, problems the jurisdiction is facing, and expectations for benefits from the funding. These...

In the Media

The University of Michigan moves to modernize government financial reporting

Jun 17, 2022 Reason Foundation

In 2002, three academic researchers proposed applying eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) to state and local government financial reporting to make municipal data more digestible and publicly available. Now 20 years later, the University...

In the Media

University of Michigan and XBRL US Launch Public Review of Government Data Standards

Jun 16, 2022 Yahoo!

XBRL US, a nonprofit standards organization, and the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, announced the publication of digital financial data standards for local...

In the Media

University of Michigan and XBRL US Launch Public Review of Government Data Standards

Jun 16, 2022 Bloomberg.com

In the Media

Two-decade review of Flint finances by U-M shows consequences of lack of investment, legacy costs - University of Michigan News

Jun 9, 2022 Planet's Water

The turmoil surrounding the city of Flint-most notably stemming from its lead-tainted water crisis-has become a cautionary tale for other Rust Belt cities struggling to balance their budgets, provide services and attract new...

In the Media

Two-decade review of Flint finances by U-M shows consequences of lack of investment, legacy costs

Jun 9, 2022 Spot On Michigan

CLOSUP Updates

New Report: A Twenty-year Review of Flint’s Financial Condition

Jun 8, 2022

A new report from CLOSUP illustrates how data found in basic financial statements may be used to understand how Flint’s financial condition has changed over time. We draw on data from Flint’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports from FY 2000 to...

MPPS in the news

Survey: Half Of Local Gov'ts Negative On Remote Hearings

Jun 3, 2022 Gongwer (subscription required)

A statewide survey of local governments found that nearly half of local officials found the conducting of meetings remotely decreased the overall quality of government meetings. The findings were part of a spring 2021 survey from the Michigan Public...

MPPS in the news

Survey looks at online government meeting quality, service disparities

Jun 1, 2022 The University Record

More than half of Michigan’s local officials say that moving government meetings online during the pandemic decreased the overall quality of such gatherings, according to a University of Michigan...

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Internet presence among Michigan local governments: websites, online services, and experience with virtual meetings

May 26, 2022

A new report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding their jurisdiction’s online presence, including whether their local government has an official website and what it provides, the use of teleconferencing for official...

MPPS in the news

Michigan leaders support recycling programs, but struggle to implement

May 14, 2022 Mlive

Leaders of Michigan communities both large and small overwhelmingly agree recycling remains important, but they face challenges to implement recycling programs for their residents. A recent University of Michigan public policy survey showed...

MPPS in the news

Short-Changing Michigan Local Governments Has Resulted in Deteriorating Water Systems and Other Services

May 12, 2022 Circle of Blue

Michigan has had its share of disasters. Dams collapsed after heavy rains, flooding Midland. A sinkhole the size of a football field was caused by a sewer collapse in Macomb County. And in Flint, children were exposed to lead-contaminated...

MPPS in the news

Short-changing Michigan local governments tied to deteriorating water systems

May 9, 2022 Bridge Michigan