Policy Topics

Public management

Showing 121 - 150 of 865 results
Policy Reports

Sales Tax Holidays

July 1, 2010
A “sales tax holiday” is a period of time, usually lasting a few days, during which state sales tax and sometimes local sales taxes are not levied on a set of goods. This report begins with a history of sales tax holidays and a discussion of the...
Economic development

Where do we go from here conference

April 2006 - April 2006
In April 2006 CLOSUP hosted "Where Do We Go From Here? An Agenda-Setting Conference for the Economic Issues Facing Michigan." The conference objectives were to: Determine whether it is possible to develop a far-reaching, practical and broadly acceptable agenda to address our state's economic troubles. Identify the core components of such an agenda. Nourish the overall debate around the policy options facing our...
Local government fiscal health, COVID-19 fiscal strategy

Local Government COVID-19 Fiscal Strategy and Resource Guide

April 2020
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Stephanie Leiser
APRIL, 2020: The COVID-19 crisis is having a dramatic impact on Michigan's local governments, and the fiscal implications—including emergency spending, revenue losses, and budget cuts—are already being felt. Here you will find not just up-to-date information but a set of ideas and tools that will help you strategically navigate the new fiscal landscape.  This crisis, combined with the ongoing municipal funding challenges in Michigan, will require an even greater effort on behalf of local officials and administrators to quickly assess resources, respond to changing policies and legislation,...
Functioning of democracy

The Functioning of Democracy: Insights from Michigan’s local leaders

April 2020
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Tom Ivacko, Debra Horner, Natalie Fitzpatrick, Monika Anderson, Kristina Curtiss, Christian Hunter, Julie Rubin, Kyron Smith, Karley Thurston
CLOSUP’s Functioning of Democracy Project is designed to increase our understanding of how American democracy is functioning at the local level, based on the unique perspective of Michigan’s local government leaders. It also serves as a Signature Initiative of the the University of Michigan’s Democracy & Debate program, providing resources, support, and analysis for faculty, students, and others interested in learning more about the state of U.S. democracy at the grassroots level. These resources and projects draw from data collected through the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), an...
MPPS, Local government fiscal health

The Michigan Public Policy Survey

April 2009
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Debra Horner, Tom Ivacko
The Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) is unique in the nation as the only ongoing survey of all general purpose local governments across an entire state. Its mission is to inform and improve policymaking with data not available from any other source, by surveying the state’s local...
Functioning of democracy

Local Government Political Accountability

September 2001 - June 2006
Note: This project was active at CLOSUP from 2001 to 2006. The information below is for archival purposes. One underlying theme in studies of democratic government is the problem of political accountability. To most scholars, accountability has to do with the relationship between what citizens want and what government officials do. Definitions abound, some focusing on government processes (are procedures fair and transparent?), some dealing with government actions (do representatives advocate policies that citizens favor?), some dealing with policy outcomes (do they reflect citizen...
Local government fiscal health

Local Government Fiscal Capacity and Tax Limitations

September 2001 - June 2006
Note: This project was active at CLOSUP from 2001 to 2006. The information below is for archival purposes. Responding to taxpayer dissatisfaction over high property taxes, Michigan, like many other states, has passed legislation to restrict annual property tax increases. Beginning in 1978, the state's voters adopted the Headlee Amendment to the Michigan Constitution, limiting annual growth in property tax revenues to the lesser of 5 percent or the rate of inflation. In 1994, the voters passed Proposal A, restructuring school finance and placing a cap on annual increases in property value...
Local government fiscal health

CLOSUP Fiscal Health Project

Launched in 2019, and working in partnership with the Michigan Department of Treasury, and others, CLOSUP’s Fiscal Health Project aims to develop a deeper understanding of the fiscal health and fiscal challenges of local governments in Michigan, and beyond. This deeper understanding will contribute toward a proactive approach to local fiscal health in Michigan, and promote greater transparency and earlier detection of signs of fiscal...
Economic development

Michigan at the Millennium

December 2004 - December 2007
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Elisabeth Gerber
Note: This project was active at CLOSUP from 2004 to 2007, though the resulting book remains available. The information below is for archival purposes. Over the past two decades, Michigan has witnessed what can only be considered a massive restructuring of its economic, social, natural, fiscal, and public policy environments. Relative to other sectors, reliance on automotive and other heavy manufacturing has declined substantially, replaced by impressive growth in the high tech and service sectors. Employment in agriculture has declined but productivity in that sector has increased....

MPPS Spring 2020 data tables

Summary tables for questionnaire items from the Spring 2020 Wave of the MPPS broken down by jurisdiction type, population size, and region of the state are accessible below. Table of Contents Coronavirus Disease 2019...

Spring 2020 Michigan Public Policy Survey Homepage

THE SPRING 2020 MICHIGAN PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY Topics: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); annual tracking items for fiscal, budget, operation policies; election administration and security; Michigan's new Independent Citizens...

Flint Financial Data: 2000-2021

As part of CLOSUP's project to modernize financial reporting and transparency in Michigan, we have used data from 20 years of Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs) in the City of Flint to conduct a detailed review of Flint's financial...

Spring 2019 Michigan Public Policy Survey Homepage

THE SPRING 2019 MICHIGAN PUBLIC POLICY SURVEY Topics: Annual tracking items for fiscal, budget, operation policies; preparation for the next recession; problems with opioids; local government energy issues; preparation for the 2020...