Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS)

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction should pursue engagement with a broader range of citizens?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your meetings run too long because too many citizens want to speak?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that some of your best engagement with citizens happens informally around the community (such as at the grocery store or in a restaurant, etc.)?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that you don't need formal engagement efforts because your local officials already know what citizens want?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that you make opportunities for engagement available, but your citizens rarely take advantage of them?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that in your jurisdiction's policymaking processes, any citizen who wants to express an opinion has the chance to do so?

Does your jurisdiction specifically reach out to any groups that typically might not engage in your policymaking processes?

Recently, has there been one (or more) particular issue(s) facing your jurisdiction that generated a significant increase in citizen engagement with your local government?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that citizens in your jurisdiction want access to information about the government's performance?

Recently, has there been one (or more) particular issue(s) facing your jurisdiction that generated a significant increase in citizen engagement with your local government?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To what extent do you agree or disagree that most citizens aren't willing to take the time to become well-informed on issues facing the jurisdiction?

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

To what extent do you agree or disagree that important decisions facing your jurisdiction typically have already been made prior to most public meetings?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that most citizens you hear from are more interested in complaining than in finding solutions?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding property tax rates?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction's engagement efforts mostly attract the same people over and over?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding charges for fees, licenses, etc.?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction's decision-making is transparent to your citizens?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding reliance on general fund balance?

Thinking about the next fiscal year, which action has your jurisdiction taken or likely to take regarding reliance on "rainy day" funds?

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

Citizens are often asked on opinion surveys how much trust they have in their government. Now we'd like to ask you, as a local official, about trust you have in your jurisdiction's citizens. In terms of their engagement in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations, how much time do you think you can trust the citizens in your community to be responsible participants?