State government

Michigan Redistricting Project

In 2018, Michigan voters approved a ballot initiative that moved responsibility for drawing Michigan's congressional and state legislative districts from the Michigan Legislature to a newly-formed bipartisan Michigan Independent Citizens Redistrictin...

The Functioning of Democracy

CLOSUP’s Functioning of Democracy Project sheds light on the health of democracy at the local level in Michigan, drawing directly from the voices and experiences of the state’s elected and appointed local officials. Powered by the Michigan Public Pol...

CLOSUP Updates

Opinion: Democracy is a skill we may be forgetting

Jul 15, 2026 Livingston Daily

Democracy isn't just about what's making national headlines. It's about the city council meeting, the board of education meeting and the local little league game.

CLOSUP Updates

Local officials think the Legislature is doing a bad job

Jul 10, 2026 Gongwer

The opinion of local government leaders on the state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature is falling, according to a statewide survey conducted in spring of 2026 by the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy Center for Local, Sta...

CLOSUP Updates

U-M survey finds 60% of local officials believe Michigan is ‘on the wrong track’

Jul 9, 2026 Click on Detroit

A majority of local officials in Michigan say the state is headed in the wrong direction, according to a new survey from the University of Michigan.

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: Local officials report declining outlook for state, plummeting approval of the Legislature

Jul 7, 2026

A new policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature.

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: Challenges to Michigan local government budgeting

Feb 4, 2026

A new MPPS policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan's local government leaders on a set of eight specific challenges that they might be facing in their jurisdiction's budgeting process, including technical or procedural financial management cha...

CLOSUP Updates

Michigan city leaders say local democracy is working

Jan 14, 2026 WDET 101.9 FM Detroit

At the federal level, democracy is on its heels in America. But at the local level, despite weak participation, officials say democracy is strong. The trash is getting picked up on time, and services are being properly distributed, especially in more...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Growing consensus among Michigan local government leaders on revenue inadequacy, but declining support for local tax options

Sep 23, 2025

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding local revenue policy, including whether the state’s current system of funding local government will allow them to maintain or improve services, their preferences fo...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: A majority of Michigan local officials continue to say the state is on the wrong track, reflecting partisan affiliation and growing uncertainty

Jul 22, 2025

A new MPPS policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. ...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local government and law enforcement leaders’ nuanced views on police accountability issues

Jul 8, 2025

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders, local chiefs of police, county sheriffs, and county prosecutors regarding accountability in law enforcement, including opinions on a nationwide officer misconduct database, ...

Local Officials: Residents trust police more where there are policies to improve relations

CLOSUP Updates

Report: Local lawmakers, law enforcement officers want access to misconduct reports, internal investigations

Jul 8, 2025 Gongwer

There is widespread support among local government and law enforcement for the creation of a statewide misconduct database for law enforcement officers, according to a report from the University of Michigan's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy....

MPPS in the news

Survey: Law enforcement surveillance technology is rapidly progressing, but AI raises concerns

Apr 29, 2025 Yahoo News

Usage of surveillance technology by law enforcement agencies in Michigan has exploded in the last decade, but a recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan found that as artificial intelligence tools are developed, law enforcement and local...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local government leaders report significant increases in police surveillance technology, uncertainty about AI introduction

Apr 23, 2025

A new MPPS report presents the assessments of Michigan’s local government leaders, local chiefs of police, and county sheriffs on the use and value of a range of law enforcement equipment and technology such as body and dashboard cameras, drones, aut...

CLOSUP Updates

Amplifying local voices: Michigan Public Policy Survey shares insights, experiences of Michigan’s township officials

Mar 21, 2025 Township Focus

For more than 15 years, a statewide survey of local government officials has helped to garner the opinions, experiences and insights of thousands of public leaders. These efforts, in which MTA is a partner, glean important information to help inform ...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local leaders’ views on policing co-response and alternative response teams

Feb 26, 2025

A new MPPS report presents presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders, local chiefs of police, and county sheriffs on alternative approaches to traditional policing that might involve other professionals, such as mental health profe...

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CLOSUP Updates

Report: Public Safety Survey Shows Half Of MI Law Enforcement Agencies Feel They Are Underfunded

Feb 7, 2025 Gongwer

A new report from the University of Michigan's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy shows that 59 percent of county sheriffs and 45 percent of local police chiefs feel they are not provided appropriate or sufficient funding. The report released l...

CLOSUP Updates

CLOSUP: Michigan law enforcement agencies discuss financial issues

Feb 6, 2025 Cadillac News

These days, many people are feeling financially strained, and a recent University of Michigan report suggests that municipal officials and law enforcement agencies are experiencing similar challenges. While some might say, “Thanks, Captain Obvious,” ...

CLOSUP Updates

Survey asks police chiefs, sheriffs about funding levels

Feb 2, 2025 Moody on the Market

A new survey has found many law enforcement officials around the state view their funding levels as inadequate. The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the University of Michigan says its latest Michigan Public Policy Survey sought the input...

CLOSUP Updates

Statewide survey finds many law enforcement officials believes they’re underfunded

Jan 31, 2025 WSJM News

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Half of Michigan local law enforcement agencies say they are underfunded, while most local governments are satisfied with their appropriations

Jan 23, 2025

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders, local chiefs of police, county sheriffs, and county prosecutors regarding funding for law enforcement agencies, including assessments of whether sheriff’s offices and police...

CLOSUP Updates

Law enforcement leaders view pretrial diversion programs as a source for positive change

Nov 20, 2024 My Science

A majority of Michigan sheriffs, police chiefs and county prosecutors support programs that allow certain offenders to participate in alternative paths to standard criminal prosecution, according to a new University of Michigan study. The broad suppo...

In the Media

A guide to Washtenaw County proposals

Nov 4, 2024 Read more

This election cycle, Washtenaw County voters will decide whether to approve ballot proposals regarding tax funding of emergency communications systems, veterans relief, senior services and mental health services. The Michigan Daily interviewed Stepha...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local government and law enforcement leaders’ initial opinions of Michigan’s new "red flag" law

Oct 30, 2024

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders, county sheriffs, local chiefs of police, and county prosecutors regarding Michigan’s Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law, including confidence in training on proper ERP...

MPPS in the news

Recruitment and retention of local law enforcement a growing issue in Michigan

Sep 23, 2024 WILX 10 News

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - “Recruitment has been an issue for most every Michigan police department in the last few years. I think the pendulum will swing back where recruitment is good but right now it’s a challenge,” said Williamston Police Chief Jeff...

MPPS in the news

Challenges in Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention in Michigan

Sep 19, 2024 Forward Pathway

Local leaders in Michigan are increasingly alarmed about the challenges of hiring and retaining law enforcement officers, as highlighted in the latest Michigan Public Policy Survey conducted by the University of Michigan’s Center for Local, State, an...

MPPS in the news

Tough job, fewer applicants: Michigan struggles to hire police, survey finds

Sep 17, 2024 Bridge Michigan

Police agencies throughout Michigan are struggling to hire qualified officers, a new study finds, exacerbating an officer shortage that has hit forces nationwide. A University of Michigan study released Tuesday found that 72% report difficult hiring ...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Michigan local governments report increased challenges with law enforcement recruitment and retention

Sep 17, 2024

A new MPPS report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders, county sheriffs, local chiefs of police, and county prosecutors regarding recruitment and retention of law enforcement personnel, including police officers, sheriffs’ deputi...

MPPS in the news

Local leaders in Michigan sound alarms over hiring, keeping law enforcement officers

Sep 17, 2024 Michigan News

Concerns about hiring and keeping law enforcement officers have skyrocketed among local government officials in Michigan in the past decade. Local law enforcement officials themselves are even more pessimistic about recruitment and retention within t...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan local government leaders’ concerns about the health of democracy edge upward, including at local level

Aug 14, 2024

A new MPPS policy brief presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders on a variety of issues across the state for their assessments of American democracy as a system of government, based on factors like free and fair elections, rule of la...