Spring 2011

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding the number and/or scope of interlocal agreements or other cost-sharing plans with other governments?

Does your jurisdiction have fiscal obligations as a result of other post-employment benefits? (Among those jurisdictions which reported offering health care or other retirement benefits)

Are any of your jurisdiction's employees members of a labor union?

Has your jurisdiction financed liability through bonds to address GASB 45? (Among those jurisdictions which reported having fiscal obligations as a result of offering health care or other retirement benefits)

In the current fiscal year, did your jurisdiction utilize reduced pay rates and/or benefits packages for new hires, compared to current employee compensation rates?

Even if it is never actually applied in your jurisdiction, overall, how effective or ineffective do you believe the Local Government & School District Fiscal Accountability Act will be at restoring or protecting your jurisdiction's fiscal health? (Among those jurisdictions which did not report being completely unfamiliar with the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act and did not indicate the appointment of an EFM within the next 12 months as being "not at all likely")

In your current fiscal year, did your jurisdiction completely eliminate any service(s), but is now provided by another entity?

In your opinion, overall, have the union(s) that represent your employees been an asset, a liability, or neither, to your jurisdiction's overall performance? (Among jurisdictions reporting union employees)

How much do you believe the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped to improve economic conditions in your community in the long term?

Different local jurisdictions manage their unreserved general fund balances in different ways depending on their specific circumstances. Despite these differences, we're interested in tracking overall changes in these balances over time. Approximately what was your jurisdiction's unreserved general fund balance as a percentage of general fund expenditures at the end of its last fiscal year?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the amount of federal aid to your jurisdiction?

In your opinion, overall, have your DDA and/or other special taxing authorities been an asset, a liability, or neither to your jurisdiction's fiscal health to date? (Among those jurisdictions that reported having one or more special tax authorities)

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the number of employees for your jurisdiction?

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's fringe benefits package(s) for current employees to be too generous, about right, or not generous enough? (Among those jurisdictions that reported providing fringe benefits to current employees)

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding reliance on "rainy day" funds?

Does your jurisdiction offer employees and/or current retirees both plans (i.e., defined benefit plans for some employees, defined contribution for others)? (Among those jurisdictions that reported providing retirement income benefits)

Thinking specifically about defined benefit plans (i.e., traditional pensions), does your jurisdiction have fiscal obligations as a result of providing retirement pensions? (Among those jurisdictions which reported offering retirement income benefits)

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding your jurisdiction not filling vacant positions?

Has your jurisdiction increased cost-sharing for retirees to address GASB 45? (Among those jurisdictions which reported having fiscal obligations as a result of offering health care or other retirement benefits)

In your opinion, overall, have the union(s) that represent your employees been an asset, a liability, or neither, to your jurisdiction's fiscal health? (Among jurisdictions reporting union employees)

How would you rate the way Rick Snyder is performing his job as Michigan's governor?

In the next fiscal year, how likely is it that your jurisdiction will utilize a four-day work week?

Governor Snyder recently presented a new state government performance measurement and benchmarking system in the form of a Michigan state government "dashboard." How familiar are you with this new state dashboard?

Looking forward to the next fiscal year, do you expect your jurisdiction will completely eliminate any particular service(s), but it will be provided by another entity?

Would you say that your unit of government is less able or better able to meet its financial needs in the next fiscal year compared to this fiscal year?

Do you anticipate that your jurisdiction will have property tax charge-backs from your county government in the current fiscal year?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the population of your jurisdiction?

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's pay rate(s) for new hires to be too high, about right, or too low?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the cost of current employee health benefits for your jurisdiction?

Does your jurisdiction offer any kind of retirement income benefits (defined benefit pensions, defined contribution plans, etc.) to new hires?