Fall 2014

Does your jurisdiction’s local government have a code of ethics?

We’re interested in getting a sense of local officials’ views on their local county road commissions or county road departments (where road commission duties have been transferred to the county). Thinking about how the county road commission or road department interacts with your jurisdiction in particular, to what extent do you agree or disagree that your county road commission/road department generally responds to your government’s communications in a timely manner?

Thinking about the condition of roads and bridges within your community overall, to what degree would you say their current condition has a positive or negative impact, if any, on your jurisdiction government’s fiscal health?

Were members of the business community a source from which you felt pressure to do something during the past five years that, in your role as a local official, you felt might be unethical?

Which of the following best describes your jurisdiction’s approach to Complete Streets policies? (Excluding jurisdictions that report being completely unfamiliar with Complete Streets)

In your opinion, where would you say you personally in your role as a local official would rank the need for road and bridge maintenance and improvement compared to other public service priorities (e.g., public safety services, economic development, public health, trash collection, etc.) for your local government?

Thinking more broadly about transit options in your jurisdiction, is Amtrak currently available to members of your community?

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing the gas and/or diesel taxes for the state to raise more revenue.

In your opinion, how satisfied or dissatisfied would you say, employers, employees, and job seekers are regarding the transit options currently available in your jurisdiction?

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose leasing road right-of-way and/or state property for cell phone towers, advertisements, etc. for the state to raise more revenue.

We’re interested in factors that may be encouraging or discouraging the expansion of transit in jurisdictions across the state. To what degree would you say public demand has been encouraging or discouraging the development of transit within your jurisdiction?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, in your opinion, would the majority of your jurisdiction's citizens support or oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads, through existing options such as millages or potential new options like sales or fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, etc.?

First of all, we are interested in your general opinions about the state of ethics and integrity in Michigan government. In general, how would you rate Michigan's state legislators overall in terms of ethical behavior in their official positions?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for the maintenance, improvement, and construction of roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, do you think the majority of your citizens would support or oppose raising additional local revenue through a local/regional income tax (if it were allowed in Michigan)? (Excluding those jurisdictions that report a majority of citizens to oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads)

To what extent do you agree or disagree that Michigan's state legislators should be required to wait a certain period of time (a year or two) after leaving office before becoming a lobbyist or consultant that does work for the state government, also known as a "revolving door" restriction?

Have there been any problems or controversies regarding private roads in your community? (Among those jurisdictions that report having one or more private roads)

We’re interested in getting a sense of local officials’ views on their local county road commissions or county road departments (where road commission duties have been transferred to the county). Thinking about how the county road commission or road department interacts with your jurisdiction in particular, to what extent do you agree or disagree that your county road commission/road department generally makes fair decisions?

We know there are regular assessments of many public roads using formal scoring methods, however, we are interested in your personal evaluation of the overall condition of roads and bridges within your jurisdiction’s geographic boundaries. In your opinion, how would you rate the overall current condition within your jurisdiction of local paved roads?

Concerns about government ethics—some with merit, others without—can sometimes be raised by citizens and organizations in the community. Please identify whether your jurisdiction has experienced accusations of Open Meetings Act violations in the last five years and whether any of the actions ultimately resulted in findings of legitimate concern.

Thinking beyond traditional road issues, have added or expanded dedicated bike lanes on streets been implemented within your jurisdiction's geographic boundaries in the last five years?

Thinking about the condition of roads and bridges within your community overall, to what degree would you say their current condition has a positive or negative impact, if any, on the ability of public safety personnel to respond to an emergency in your jurisdiction?

Overall, how satisfied are you with your jurisdiction’s policies and practices governing ethics?

What overall impact, if any, do you believe Complete Streets policies have or would have on economic development in your jurisdiction? (Excluding jurisdictions that report being completely unfamiliar with Complete Streets)

Some counties or localities have had to resort to grinding up paved roads that they can no longer afford to maintain. As far as you know, has this been done to one or more paved roads within your jurisdiction’s geographic boundaries during the past five years?

Thinking more broadly about transit options in your jurisdiction, is Dial-a-ride/on-demand para-transit service currently available to members of your community?

There are many methods states could use to fund roads and bridges, including some that are not currently allowed in Michigan. Thinking about a broad range of policy options, and assuming the Michigan Legislature does increase funding for roads and bridges, please identify whether you would support or oppose increasing the sales tax for the state to raise more revenue.

In your opinion, how satisfied or dissatisfied would you say you personally in your role as a local official are regarding the transit options currently available in your jurisdiction?

Does your jurisdiction use special assessment(s) to fund its contributions to the road and/or bridge maintenance, improvement, or construction? (Among those jurisdictions that report using local revenue sources)

We’re interested in factors that may be encouraging or discouraging the expansion of transit in jurisdictions across the state. To what degree would you say the availability of local funding has been encouraging or discouraging the development of transit within your jurisdiction?

Looking ahead, if the state legislature does not significantly increase funding for the maintenance, improvement, and construction of roads and/or bridges in your jurisdiction, do you think the majority of your citizens would support or oppose raising additional local revenue through a special assessment? (Excluding those jurisdictions that report a majority of citizens to oppose the pursuit of additional local revenue dedicated to roads)