Spring 2012

From your jurisdiction's perspective, overall, what were the outcomes from negotiations on union employee benefits? (Among jurisdictions reporting negotiating on employee benefits)

From your jurisdiction's perspective, overall, what were the outcomes from negotiations on union employee staffing levels? (Among jurisdictions reporting negotiating on union employee staffing levels)

From your jurisdiction's perspective, overall, what were the outcomes from negotiations on union employee work rules? (Among jurisdictions reporting negotiating on union employee work rules)

Overall, how satisfied are you with the outcomes of negotiations with your jurisdiction's employee union(s) over the last 12 months? (Among jurisdictions reporting negotiations with labor unions)

Thinking ahead to the next 12 months, how likely is it that your jurisdiction will seek concessions — such as reduced pay or benefits, reduced staffing levels, or changes in work rules — from one or more of its employee unions? (Among jurisdictions reporting union employees)

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 in the last 12 months? (Among jurisdictions reporting union employees)

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

Thinking about the last 12 months, how would you describe, overall, the relationship between your jurisdiction's union(s) and your jurisdiction's administration? (Among jurisdictions reporting union employees)

Thinking about the current fiscal year, please indicate whether or not your jurisdiction utilized the following policies: Employee furloughs

Thinking about the current fiscal year, please indicate whether or not your jurisdiction utilized the following policies: A four-day workweek

Thinking about the current fiscal year, please indicate whether or not your jurisdiction utilized the following policies: Early retirement incentives or buyouts

Thinking about the current fiscal year, please indicate whether or not your jurisdiction utilized the following policies: Reduced pay rates and/or benefits packages for new hires, compared to current employee compensation rates

Thinking about the next fiscal year, how likely is it that your jurisdiction will utilize the following policies: Employee furloughs

Thinking about the next fiscal year, how likely is it that your jurisdiction will utilize the following policies: A four-day work week

Thinking about the next fiscal year, how likely is it that your jurisdiction will utilize the following policies: Early retirement incentives or buyouts

Does your jurisdiction offer its personnel and/or current retirees a defined contribution plan (i.e., a 401K-type plan)? (Among those jurisdictions that reported providing retirement income benefits)

Does your jurisdiction provide any fringe benefits (i.e., health care, dental, vision, life insurance, etc) to new hires?

Does your jurisdiction provide any fringe benefits (i.e., health care, dental, vision, life insurance, etc) to current employees?

Does your jurisdiction provide any fringe benefits (i.e., health care, dental, vision, life insurance, etc) to current elected officials?

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

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

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

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

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

Does your jurisdiction offer its personnel and/or current retirees a defined benefit plan (i.e., a traditional pension)? (Among those jurisdictions that reported providing retirement income benefits)

During the next twelve months, do you think your community will have good times financially, or bad times financially?

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

Does your jurisdiction offer its personnel and/or current retirees a hybrid plan (i.e., plans that combine features of both defined benefit and defined contribution plans for an individual employee)? (Among those jurisdictions that reported providing retirement income benefits)

If currently offering only a defined benefit plan, how likely is it that your jurisdiction will introduce either a defined contribution plan or a hybrid plan for its employees and/or new hires within the next 12 months?

Does your jurisdiction offer any kind of retirement health care or other post-employment benefit plans (sometimes referred to as "OPEB") to new hires?