Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS)

Personal Property Tax (PPT) reform is a policy priority in Lansing, and we want to get your perspectives about the PPT overall. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following general statements about the PPT: If the state agrees to replace my jurisdiction's PPT revenues in full, I would support elimination of the PPT.

Personal Property Tax (PPT) reform is a policy priority in Lansing, and we want to get your perspectives about the PPT overall. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following general statements about the PPT: If the state agrees to replace most of my jurisdiction's PPT revenues, I would support elimination of the PPT.

Personal Property Tax (PPT) reform is a policy priority in Lansing, and we want to get your perspectives about the PPT overall. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following general statements about the PPT: If the state agrees to replace most or all PPT revenues (but it is not guaranteed in the Constitution), I trust the state will follow through in the future on its commitment to provide those funds.

Personal Property Tax (PPT) reform is a policy priority in Lansing, and we want to get your perspectives about the PPT overall. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following general statements about the PPT: The PPT currently is an important source of revenue for my jurisdiction's budget.

To what extent would you say the following types of Personal Property Tax (PPT) are important sources of revenue for your jurisdiction's budget: Industrial personal property tax

To what extent would you say the following types of Personal Property Tax (PPT) are important sources of revenue for your jurisdiction's budget: Commercial personal property tax

To what extent would you say the following types of Personal Property Tax (PPT) are important sources of revenue for your jurisdiction's budget: Utility personal property tax

If the Personal Property Tax (PPT) is repealed (in full or in part) and replacement revenue is an option, do you believe the revenue should be collected and redistributed by the state, or should local jurisdictions have greater authority to raise and keep the revenue at the local level?

Last year, the state enacted the "Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act" (P.A. 4 of 2011), a law that governs when and how emergency managers are appointed to oversee local governments and school districts in fiscal distress. How familiar are you with this law?

Next we want to focus on which particular elements of the system for funding local government in Michigan you think need to be reformed in some significant fashion. How important, if at all, do you believe it is to significantly reform: Regional taxation

Now we would like your opinion on different elements of the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act (P.A. 4 of 2011). To what extent do you support or oppose: Allowing an Emergency Manager (EM) to reject, modify, or terminate collective bargaining agreements.

Now we would like your opinion on different elements of the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act (P.A. 4 of 2011). To what extent do you support or oppose: Allowing an EM to set aside decision-making powers of local elected officials.

Now we would like your opinion on different elements of the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act (P.A. 4 of 2011). To what extent do you support or oppose: Allowing an EM to recommend (with approval of the state) the sale, transfer, or lease of the local jurisdiction's assets.

Now we would like your opinion on different elements of the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act (P.A. 4 of 2011). To what extent do you support or oppose: Allowing an EM to recommend (with approval of the state) collaboration or consolidation with other jurisdictions, or disincorporation of the local jurisdiction.

Now we would like your opinion on different elements of the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act (P.A. 4 of 2011). To what extent do you support or oppose: Allowing a current local official, such as a mayor or council member, to be appointed as an EM.

Now we would like your opinion on different elements of the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act (P.A. 4 of 2011). To what extent do you support or oppose: The Emergency Manager law (P.A. 4 of 2011) overall.

First, in your opinion, how good of a job does your local K-12 education system do in preparing students for college, the job market in your region, and jobs in the global economy: College

First, in your opinion, how good of a job does your local K-12 education system do in preparing students for college, the job market in your region, and jobs in the global economy: The job market in your region

First, in your opinion, how good of a job does your local K-12 education system do in preparing students for college, the job market in your region, and jobs in the global economy: Jobs in the global economy

In your opinion, how do students in your community compare with others in the state in terms of: Elementary school achievement

In your opinion, how do students in your community compare with others in the state in terms of: High school achievement

In your opinion, how do students in your community compare with others in the state in terms of: College enrollment

For your community, what impact do you believe the following strategies, programs, or laws have had-or would have-on the academic achievement of K-12 students: Charter Schools

For your community, what impact do you believe the following strategies, programs, or laws have had-or would have-on the academic achievement of K-12 students: The Michigan Merit Curriculum

We are interested in views about the trade-off between services and taxes. Thinking about particular services your jurisdiction may currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the currently offer, if your jurisdiction's citizens were facing significant service cuts, in your opinion, what would they choose? Would the majority of citizens be more likely to choose higher taxes to avoid those service cuts or would they choose cuts to public services to avoid higher taxes: Public transportation/transit

Does your jurisdiction use multi-year financial projections when developing its budget?

Some local jurisdictions are moving to formal multi-year budgeting, rather than the traditional single-year budgeting. Others are not. Does your jurisdiction adopt single-year budgets or multi-year budgets?

How likely is it that your jurisdiction will adopt formal multi-year budgeting in the next 12 months?

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

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