Spring 2017

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

How would you rate the way the US Congress in Washington is performing its job?

To what extent would you support or oppose pre-registration of 16-year-olds (e.g., when they get their driver's licenses) in Michigan?

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

Does your jurisdiction have any paid employees other than elected officials? If so, which of the following type(s)? (check all that apply) 

b. Full-time

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?

Overall, do you consider your jurisdiction’s fringe benefits package(s) — or lack thereof — for new hires to be too generous, about right, or not generous enough? (Among jurisdictions that have full-time, part-time, or seasonal employees)

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

In your opinion, how much of a problem, if at all, are other personnel issues for your jurisdiction’s government? (Among jurisdictions that have full-time, part-time, or seasonal employees)

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

Which of the following, if any, are reasons your jurisdiction is unlikely to develop a formal succession planning process? (check all that apply) (Among those jurisdictions that reported being unlikely to develop a formal succession planning process in the next 5 years) 

d. Lack of staff time to devote to planning

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

Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten off on the wrong track?

To what extent, if any, would you say reliable internet connectivity for communication with the Secretary of State has or has not recently been a problem with election administration in your jurisdiction?

Now thinking about how the state government relates to your jurisdiction in particular, how would you, in your role as a local official, rate the way the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is performing their job overall?

Overall, to what extent would you say you are confident in the ability of your jurisdiction to administer an accurate election?

The State of Michigan is requiring cities and townships to update their voting equipment by August 2018, and says it will provide funding to cover most — or all — of the up-front costs. Cities and townships will pay for any remaining cost beyond the State’s contribution, and for extended service and maintenance after 5 years. To what extent do you agree or disagree that new equipment will significantly improve election administration in your jurisdiction?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in revenue from property taxes for your jurisdiction?

To what extent would you support or oppose absentee voting with no excuse required in Michigan?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the public safety needs for your jurisdiction?

Does your jurisdiction have any paid employees other than elected officials? If so, which of the following type(s)? (check all that apply) 

e. Temporary/irregular

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

In your opinion, how much of a problem, if at all, is retaining current employees for your jurisdiction’s government? (Among jurisdictions that have full-time, part-time, or seasonal employees)

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

Which of the following factors, if any, are contributing to your jurisdiction’s problems in recruiting and/or retaining employees? (check all that apply) (Among those jurisdictions that reported that recruiting and/or retaining current employees was a problem)

b. Poaching (i.e., losing employees to other public employers or the private sector)

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

Do you think that your jurisdiction currently has an adequate size of workforce to deliver desired fire services? (Among jurisdictions that have full-time, part-time, seasonal, or temporary/irregular employees)

Now, thinking about the overall fiscal stress in your jurisdiction today and what you expect it to be down the road — including any future financial obligations it may have — on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is the best: perfect fiscal health and 10 is the worst: fiscal crisis, how would you rate your jurisdiction’s overall fiscal stress as you expect it to be five years from now?

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

To what extent, if any, would you say recruiting enough poll workers has or has not recently been a problem with election administration in your jurisdiction?