Finance Budget and Operations

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Report: Survey of Michigan local leaders finds that a major short-term boost in financial aid doesn't change fundamentals of fiscal stress

Jan 23, 2024

A new MPPS report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of their jurisdictions’ fiscal conditions and the actions they plan to take in the coming year, given their financial situations. These findings are based on statewide surveys...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: Michigan local governments’ ability to find, get, and manage state and federal grants

Oct 11, 2023

A new policy brief presents Michigan local government leaders’ views on their jurisdiction’s capacity for pursuing external grant funding from the state and federal governments. These findings are based on statewide surveys of local government...

Michigan local governments face ARPA spending challenges with inflation and supply chain issues

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: Challenges for Michigan local governments with ARPA spending continue, particularly in project costs and procurement

Jun 29, 2023

A new policy brief presents Michigan local government leaders’ views on the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), including plans for spending the funds, problems the jurisdiction is facing, and expectations for benefits from the funding. These...

In the Media

Whitmer’s new budget proposal: What it means for Michigan residents

Feb 24, 2023 The Michigan Daily

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her fifth executive budget recommendation for the 2024 fiscal year on Feb. 8, setting the record for the largest budget proposal in Michigan’s history at $79...

CLOSUP Updates

New MPPS Policy Brief: A survey of Michigan local government leaders on American Rescue Plan Act funding and uses

Jul 28, 2022

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Michigan local governments report fewer economic challenges one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe efforts to support local businesses

Sep 29, 2021

A new report from the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) presents local government leaders’ views on COVID-19’s impact on local economic conditions, as well as reports of whether or not their local governments took action to help local businesses...

Enclosed tents for dining on a city street

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: COVID-19 pandemic sparks Michigan local leaders’ concerns for fiscal health

Dec 14, 2020

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of their jurisdictions’ fiscal conditions and the actions they plan to take in the coming year given their financial situations. The findings are based on responses from 12...

MPPS in the news

Survey: 55% Of Communities Expect Economic 'Good Times'

Nov 15, 2018 Gongwer

(subscription...

MPPS in the news

Local government revenues lag state's economic recovery

Nov 3, 2017 Capital News Service

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MPPS in the news

Local Michigan officials: Fiscal recovery is mixed, but slightly positive overall

Oct 15, 2017 The County Press, Lapeer, MI

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MPPS in the news

Local Michigan officials: Fiscal Recovery Is Mixed, But Slightly Positive Overall

Oct 12, 2017 mitechnews.com

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MPPS in the news

Michigan Cities Say Fiscal Stability is Precariously Balanced

Oct 12, 2017 WDET Radio, 101.9 FM

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MPPS in the news

Local Officials Say Finances Improves Slightly (subscription required)

Oct 11, 2017 Gongwer

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MPPS

Survey of Michigan local leaders finds major short-term boost in financial aid doesn't change fundamentals of fiscal stress

January 23, 2024

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Challenges for Michigan local governments with ARPA spending continue, particularly in project costs and procurement

June 29, 2023

This policy brief presents Michigan local government leaders’ views on the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), including plans for spending the funds, problems the jurisdiction is facing, and expectations for benefits from the funding. These...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders report near-term improvements in fiscal health, especially in large jurisdictions, yet long-term concerns increase

December 14, 2022

Fiscal Health in Rural Communities: A Case Study of Pine River Township, Michigan

September 9, 2022

Stephanie Leiser, Maximilian Hill, Margaret Walthall

This case study examines the fiscal health of Pine River Township, Michigan, a mostly rural community in central Michigan, using data from the Township’s audited financial reports. We find that Pine River Township has a sizable and growing General...

Fiscal Health in Rural Counties: A Case Study of Ogemaw County, MI

September 9, 2022

Stephanie Leiser, Maximilian Hill

This case study examines the fiscal health of Ogemaw County, Michigan, a mostly rural county in the northeast lower peninsula of Michigan, using data from the County’s annual audited financial reports. We find that while Ogemaw County has struggled...

A Twenty-year Review of Flint’s Financial Condition

June 8, 2022

Stephanie Leiser, Shu Wang, James L. Tatum III

Over the past twenty years, few cities have experienced as much fiscal stress as Flint, Michigan. After decades of economic decline, two periods of state receivership, the water crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Flint is trying to shore...

MPPS

Internet presence among Michigan local governments: websites, online services, and experience with virtual meetings

May 25, 2022

This report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding their jurisdiction’s online presence, including whether their local government has an official website and what it provides, the use of teleconferencing for official...

MPPS

Michigan local government officials report improved fiscal health after a year of COVID-19, but not yet back to pre-pandemic levels

December 15, 2021

Working Papers

An Open Data Standard for Local Government Financial Reporting: How it Could Work in Michigan

June 30, 2021

Capri Backus, Stephanie Leiser

XBRL, an open data standard, can improve access and analysis of public financial data for local governments in Michigan. Key benefits of creating an XBRL program for local governments include enhanced public transparency, easier data access for...

Assessing Local Fiscal Health in Tourist Cities in Michigan

June 30, 2021

Christen Richardson and Capri Backus, Policy Analysts

This case study takes an in-depth look at the fiscal health stress of two tourist cities (City X and City Y) using a wide range of financial and demographic factors as well as findings from the Michigan Public Policy Survey. This case study...

Local Government Fiscal Health & Deindustrialization in Michigan

May 30, 2021

Elizabeth Chon and Capri Backus, Policy Analysts

In this case study, we analyze the financial health and Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) responses for two municipalities in Michigan: Cities X and Y. Although both municipalities experienced industrial decline throughout the late 20th century,...

A Tale of Two Counties: Reconciling Differences in Fiscal Stress Across Similar Rural Communities in Michigan

January 30, 2021

Anthony J. Martinez and Capri Backus

This case study compares two municipalities (Counties X & Y) with similar demographic characteristics and economic growth trajectories across objective and subjective indicators of fiscal health. After studying the financials of Counties X and Y, we...

Fiscal Strategy Memos

Fiscal Strategies: Strategies for Short-term Cash-flow Borrowing

May 18, 2020

Stephanie Leiser, Steven Norton, University of Michigan

Fiscal Strategy Memos

Fiscal Strategies: Planning for Reduced Operating Expenses

May 1, 2020

Eric Walcott, Michigan State University Extension, Shu Wang, Michigan State University

This memo is included in the Local Government COVID-19 Fiscal Strategy and Resource...

MPPS

Michigan Public Policy Survey - Spring 2019 County-wide Fiscal Health Fact Sheets

February 3, 2020

The Spring 2019 County-wide Fiscal Health Fact Sheets are from the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), an ongoing survey of the top elected and appointed officials in every unit of general purpose local government across the state. The MPPS is...

MPPS

Mixed signals continue for Michigan local governments' fiscal health, while future outlooks worsen

December 1, 2019

Working Papers

Local Government Fiscal Health: Comparing Self-Assessments to Conventional Measures

October 1, 2019

Stephanie Leiser, Sarah Mills

Municipal fiscal condition is typically assessed using objective financial indicators, but little is understood about how local officials subjectively evaluate their own fiscal health. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyze...