Spring 2012

Some jurisdictions have cut services recently, while others have not. We want to get an overall sense of the level of satisfaction with the package of services your jurisdiction offers today. In your view, how satisfied would you say the following people or groups are with your jurisdiction's current package of services provided: The majority of business leaders in your community

In your current fiscal year, did your jurisdiction completely eliminate any particular services: Yes, service(s) completely eliminated and no longer provided at all

In your current fiscal year, did your jurisdiction completely eliminate any particular services: Yes, service(s) completely eliminated, but now provided by another entity

In your current fiscal year, did your jurisdiction completely eliminate any particular services: No

Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, do you expect your jurisdiction will completely eliminate any particular services: Yes, service(s) will be completely eliminated and no longer provided at all

Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, do you expect your jurisdiction will completely eliminate any particular services: Yes, service(s) will be completely eliminated, but will be provided by another entity

Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, do you expect your jurisdiction will completely eliminate any particular services: No

Does your jurisdiction use multi-year financial projections when developing its budget?

Some local jurisdictions are moving to formal multi-year budgeting, rather than the traditional single-year budgeting. Others are not. Does your jurisdiction adopt single-year budgets or multi-year budgets?

How likely is it that your jurisdiction will adopt formal multi-year budgeting in the next 12 months?

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?

Thinking about your jurisdiction's fiscal needs, overall, do you consider your jurisdiction's unreserved general fund balance to be too high, about right, or too low?

In your opinion, is your jurisdiction's cash flow and its ability to pay bills in a timely manner a significant fiscal problem, somewhat of a problem, not much of a problem, or not a problem at all?

Some jurisdictions have cut services recently, while others have not. We want to get an overall sense of the level of satisfaction with the package of services your jurisdiction offers today. In your view, how satisfied would you say the following people or groups are with your jurisdiction's current package of services provided: The majority of your jurisdiction's citizens

Some jurisdictions have cut services recently, while others have not. We want to get an overall sense of the level of satisfaction with the package of services your jurisdiction offers today. In your view, how satisfied would you say the following people or groups are with your jurisdiction's current package of services provided: The majority of your jurisdiction's council/board

Personal Property Tax (PPT) reform is a policy priority in Lansing, and we want to get your perspectives about the PPT overall. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following general statements about the PPT: The revenue raised in my jurisdiction is not worth the costs to administer the PPT.

Some jurisdictions have cut services recently, while others have not. We want to get an overall sense of the level of satisfaction with the package of services your jurisdiction offers today. In your view, how satisfied would you say the following people or groups are with your jurisdiction's current package of services provided: You personally

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Police services

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Fire services

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Parks/recreation/libraries

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Roads

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Public transportation/transit

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Economic development

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose?

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: General operations

Michigan's local jurisdictions currently have constraints on certain kinds of revenue growth (for example, the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A). Thinking about the revenue caps facing your jurisdiction, if the economy improves over the coming years, do you agree or disagree that the current system of funding local government will provide adequate funding to: maintain the current package of services your jurisdiction provides

Michigan's local jurisdictions currently have constraints on certain kinds of revenue growth (for example, the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A). Thinking about the revenue caps facing your jurisdiction, if the economy improves over the coming years, do you agree or disagree that the current system of funding the local government will provide adequate funding to improve or add more services if they are necessary or desired

Some people think the current system for funding local government in Michigan needs significant reform, while others disagree. What about you? Would you say you agree or disagree that the system for funding local governments in Michigan needs significant reform?

Next we want to focus on which particular elements of the system for funding local government in Michigan you think need to be reformed in some significant fashion. How important, if at all, do you believe it is to significantly reform: Constitutional revenue sharing

Next we want to focus on which particular elements of the system for funding local government in Michigan you think need to be reformed in some significant fashion. How important, if at all, do you believe it is to significantly reform: The Economic Vitality Incentive Program (EVIP)