Spring 2017

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 Transportation (MDOT) is performing their job overall?

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 the State’s cost-sharing approach is appropriate?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in revenue from fees for services, licenses, transfers, etc. for your jurisdiction?

To what extent would you support or oppose on-site early voting (before Election Day) in Michigan?

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

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

In your opinion, how much of a problem, if at all, is turnover due to retirements 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 general government operations 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)

d. Work atmosphere

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or is likely to take regarding employees' share of premiums, deductibles and/or co-pays on health insurance?

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

To what extent, if any, would you say the cost of election administration on your jurisdiction’s budget has or has not 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 Agriculture and Rural Development is performing their job overall?

To what extent, if any, would you say poll worker errors in following election procedures have or have not recently been problems with election administration in your jurisdiction?

How would you rate the way Donald Trump is performing his job as President?

To what extent would you support or oppose synchronizing Michigan voter lists with other states' lists?

Has there been a decrease, an increase, or no change from the previous fiscal year in the amount of federal 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) 

a. None: we have no paid employees besides elected officials:

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

Does your jurisdiction provide any fringe benefits to current employees? (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 reliance on "rainy day" funds?

In your opinion, how much of a problem, if at all, are adequate skillsets among 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 the sale of public assets?

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) 

c. Lack of financial resources for such planning

Different local jurisdictions manage their unreserved/unassigned 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/unassigned general fund balance as a percentage of general fund expenditures at the end of its last fiscal year?

In general, how would you describe the public’s perception of government workers in your jurisdiction? (Among jurisdictions that have full-time, part-time, seasonal, or temporary/irregular employees)

To what extent, if any, would you say inaccurate voter registration lists have or have not recently been problems 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 Environmental Quality (DEQ) is performing their job overall?

Overall, how effective or ineffective would you say continuing election-related education for clerks by the State is for your jurisdiction?