Spring 2013

Regardless of whether you have any placemaking efforts underway, in your opinion, how effective or ineffective for economic development purposes in your jurisdiction are anchor businesses located along corridors, nodes, or in center districts?

In the current fiscal year, did your jurisdiction utilize employee furloughs?

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

Regardless of whether you have any placemaking efforts underway, in your opinion, how effective or ineffective for economic development purposes in your jurisdiction are form-based codes?

In your current fiscal year, did your jurisdiction completely eliminate any service(s) that is no longer provided at all?

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

Do you believe lack of cultural amenities is an obstacle to entrepreneurship in your community?

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?

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)

Do you believe lack of safe access for pedestrians/bicyclists is an obstacle to entrepreneurship in your community?

We're interested in getting a general sense about the impact of property-tax exemptions on your jurisdiction's tax revenues. Do you have any universities or other higher education institutions within your jurisdiction?

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

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

How would you rate the way the Michigan Legislature is performing its job?

Approximately how much do the property-tax exempt organizations or parcels in your jurisdiction represent of demands on your jurisdiction's service provision? (Among jurisdictions reporting the existence of at least one property-tax exempt organization or parcel within them)

What type(s) of public sector labor unions does your jurisdiction currently have?

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

Whether or not you consider it to be placemaking, is your jurisdiction pursuing, for economic development or any other purpose, mixed-use developments (e.g., buildings that include a combination of retail, commercial, and residential space)?

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

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the pay rates for jurisdiction's employee wages and salaries?

Whether or not you consider it to be placemaking, is your jurisdiction pursuing, for economic development or any other purpose, bicycle-friendly/walkability (complete streets)?

To what extent would you say the majority of your local government's union employees either support or oppose the Right-To-Work law for public sector unions?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding the amount of services provided?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding actual human services spending?

Regardless of whether you have any placemaking efforts underway, in your opinion, how effective or ineffective for economic development purposes in your jurisdiction are arts and cultural amenities or events?

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?

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

In your opinion, to what extent would increased entrepreneurial activity help your jurisdiction make places where people want to live, work, and play?

Looking forward to the next fiscal year, do you expect your jurisdiction will completely eliminate any particular service(s), and it will no longer be provided at all?

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