MPPS publications

Reports from the Michigan Public Policy Survey

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The Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) is the first state-wide ongoing survey of local officials from all 1,856 counties, cities, townships, and villages in Michigan. Each biannual survey provides long-term data on a number of issues, resulting in several reports that cover core fiscal, budgetary, and operational policy, compensation, intergovernmental collaboration, economic and workforce development, and more. CLOSUP continues to investigate new issues relevant to local and state policy.

solar panels

February 2024

Most Michigan local government officials say control over renewable energy projects should stay local

This policy brief presents the views of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the division of authority between state and local governments on planning and zoning for renewable energy projects. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the fall 2023 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
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City hall

January 2024

Survey of Michigan local leaders finds that a major short-term boost in financial aid doesn't change fundamentals of fiscal stress

This MPPS 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. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the spring 2023 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), and includes responses from 15 statewide survey waves of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) conducted annually each spring from 2009 through 2023.
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December 2023

MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of democratic functioning improve from 2021 low, but first signs of trouble at local level emerge

This policy brief presents the views of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the functioning of democracy in their jurisdictions, across the State of Michigan, and across the United States as a whole. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the spring 2023 wave of the MPPS, and tracking comparisons to previous spring waves.
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Michigan Capital Building

November 2023

MPPS Policy Brief: Challenges continue for state-local relations, according to Michigan local government leaders

A new report presents local government officials’ assessments of the relationship between their jurisdiction and Michigan’s state government. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the spring 2023 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), with comparisons from the fall 2016 wave.
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2022 Fiscal Health Report

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

December 2022: 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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Michigan Capital Building

2023 GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

MPPS Policy Brief: Despite two-year trend of improvement, most Michigan local officials continue to say the state is on the wrong track

May 2023: This report 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. The findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the spring 2023 wave of the MPPS and tracking comparisons to previous spring waves.
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