Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS)

Thinking overall about topics related to energy, how relevant would you say improving energy efficiency for local businesses (including agriculture) or residents has been or currently is for your jurisdiction’s government?

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?

Have any of the following been a topic of discussion within your jurisdiction’s government, including discussion among Board/Council members, staff, etc.? (check all that apply) d. State or federal funding for energy projects

If there were no restrictions on use of the funds, how important do you think it would be to apply the American Rescue Plan Act money to replenishing depleted fund balances/reserves, if at all?

If there were no restrictions on use of the funds, how important do you think it would be to apply the American Rescue Plan Act money to your jurisdiction’s employees (e.g., preventing layoffs, increasing hiring, etc.), if at all?

If there were no restrictions on use of the funds, how important do you think it would be to apply the American Rescue Plan Act money to infrastructure investments or infrastructure debt repayment (e.g., water, sewer, broadband, etc.), if at all?

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

Q10a. Is your local government currently considering or using any of the following strategies related to planning or implementing projects with ARPA funds? (check all that apply) (among jurisdictions which are supporting or planning to support any projects using ARPA funds) a. Regional or multi-jurisdictional collaboration on a project or investment

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

To what extent would you, in your role as a local official, oppose or support new development of large-scale battery storage systems in your jurisdiction?

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

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?

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

Have any of the following been a topic of discussion within your jurisdiction’s government, including discussion among Board/Council members, staff, etc.? (check all that apply) h. Renewable natural gas infrastructure

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

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

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

Please indicate, as far as you know, if your jurisdiction has privatized tax collection, either in whole or in part.

How confident are you that your jurisdiction can meet requirements for reporting and auditing grant spending?

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

Thinking back over the past five years, have you in your role as a local official ever come under pressure to do something that you felt might be unethical?

Q10b. Is your local government currently considering or using any of the following strategies related to planning or implementing projects with ARPA funds? (check all that apply) (among jurisdictions which are supporting or planning to support any projects using ARPA funds) b. Public-private partnerships

Have any of the following been a topic of discussion within your jurisdiction’s government, including discussion among Board/Council members, staff, etc.? (check all that apply) g. Concerns over power plant closures

Q19a. What type of public sector labor unions does your jurisdiction currently have? (check all that apply) (Among jurisdiction which report having employees in public sector labor unions) a. Police

Thinking overall about topics related to energy, how relevant would you say planning for electric vehicles (e.g., charging stations, etc.) has been or currently is for your jurisdiction’s government?

To what extent would you, in your role as a local official, oppose or support new development of a natural gas power plant in your jurisdiction?

Concerns about government ethics—some with merit, others without—can sometimes be raised by citizens and organizations in the community. Please identify whether your jurisdiction has experienced accusations of impropriety against one or more of your jurisdiction's government officials in the last five years and whether any of the actions ultimately resulted in findings of legitimate concern.

Q18. Are any of your jurisdiction’s employees members of a public sector labor union?

Concerns about government ethics—some with merit, others without—can sometimes be raised by citizens and organizations in the community. Please identify whether your jurisdiction has experienced accusations of Open Meetings Act violations in the last five years and whether any of the actions ultimately resulted in findings of legitimate concern.

Q10c. Is your local government currently considering or using any of the following strategies related to planning or implementing projects with ARPA funds? (check all that apply) (among jurisdictions which are supporting or planning to support any projects using ARPA funds) c. Additional bond financing for ongoing funding support after federal funds are spent