Departments and Research Centers

Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy

The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) conducts, supports and fosters applied academic research to inform local, state, and urban policy issues.

Showing 301 - 330 of 656 results

Informing local leaders about fiscal health and economic development

Mar 28, 2014

Five years ago, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy launched an ongoing survey of the chief elected and appointed officials in every one of Michigan's 1,856 counties, cities, townships and villages, large and small. Among the survey's goals?...

Informing local leaders about fiscal health and economic development image

News

University of Michigan poll: Detroit bankruptcy was the right decision

Feb 3, 2014

Despite concerns about Detroit's bankruptcy, 56 percent of local government officials in Michigan said it was the right thing to do, according to a poll by the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy. More than half of local leaders...

Placemaking rises as economic development tool

Jan 22, 2014

More than a third of local jurisdictions reported using "placemaking" as an economic development strategy in 2013, up from 21 percent in 2009, according to the latest Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy poll.Placemaking is a community and...

MPPS report: local leaders say unions again made most of the concessions in contract negotiations

Oct 20, 2013

Local government leaders in Michigan report their employees' unions made more concessions in negotiations this year than the jurisdictions did, according to a University of Michigan survey.Among the 26 percent of Michigan's local governments that...

MPPS report: more local leaders say finances on upswing, but struggles remain

Oct 1, 2013

The fiscal health of Michigan's local government units has improved, but many—particularly small jurisdictions—still struggle to meet their financial needs, according to a University of Michigan survey.Overall, 29 percent of jurisdictions say they...

Local leaders split over Gov. Snyder's job performance, state's direction

Aug 12, 2013

Just over half, or 51 percent, of Michigan's local government leaders say Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is doing a good or excellent job, while 45 percent say his performance is just fair or poor, according to a University of Michigan...

Joint Michigan Public Policy Survey and MSU survey shows distrust of the federal government grows.

Jul 2, 2013

As the nation prepares to celebrate its independence from British rule, trust in the government formed 237 years ago continues to decline.Fewer than one in 10 local government leaders, or 6 percent, in Michigan trust the feds to "do what is right"...

CLOSUP survey: Most local leaders want residents engaged, but see limits

May 28, 2013

Most local government leaders in Michigan believe residents should provide input into policymaking, but relatively few think they should be deeply involved, according to a University of Michigan survey.Nearly two thirds (64 percent) of Michigan's...

State & Hill

An engaged citizen

Apr 22, 2013

Barry Rabe on the future of CLOSUP A six-inch bobblehead of Ron Swanson, director of a fictitious Midwestern parks department in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, dominates the meeting table in Barry Rabe's office. The bobblehead is something...

Local leaders: In residents we trust

Mar 15, 2013

Local government leaders in Michigan are more likely to trust their residents than their residents are to trust local governments, according to a University of Michigan survey.More than half of Michigan's local leaders, or 53 percent, say they trust...

News

Detroit Free Press cites CLOSUP findings in editorial on state finances

Feb 28, 2013

The Detroit Free Press cited a recent Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) in an editorial arguing that the well-being of Michigan cities must be considered when balancing Michigan's state budget. As explained in the editorial, Michigan...

MPPS findings show desire for funding reform, Tom Ivacko tells Michigan Radio

Feb 8, 2013

The latest poll in the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), conducted by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP), received coverage from Michigan Public Radio and other area media outlets for shedding light on issues of government...

Local leaders: Funding reforms needed to avoid service cuts

Jan 30, 2013

Local government leaders in Michigan report that the way their jurisdictions are funded requires significant reform to maintain services in the wake of the Great Recession, according to a University of Michigan survey.Fewer than half of local...

News

Detroit Free Press cites CLOSUP report, distrust of state as factor in tax reform

Nov 19, 2012

The Detroit Free Press cited a new Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) published by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) in an article on the possible elimination of Michigan's personal property tax. The report found that 74%...

Most local leaders say personal property tax is complex, but important to their budgets

Nov 19, 2012

A majority of Michigan's local government leaders believe revenue from the personal property tax is important to their budgets, according to a University of Michigan survey.The Michigan Personal Property Tax is assessed on businesses for their...

CLOSUP's Michigan Public Policy Survey on union concessions appears in Bridge Magazine, MLive.com, more

Oct 19, 2012

Bridge Magazine and MLive.com outlined key findings from a new Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) published by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP).The survey, "Michigan's local leaders satisfied with union negotiations,"...

News

Michigan Public Policy Survey reflects divide amongst local leaders over the state's emergency manager law

Sep 27, 2012

The latest poll from the Michigan Public Policy Survey reflects divided opinions over the state's emergency manager law, the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News have reported. The MPPS findings, released Monday, found 38 percent of local leaders...

Policy Points: Thomas Ivacko discusses Michigan Public Policy Survey on the state's emergency manager law

Sep 24, 2012

In the latest installment of "Policy Points," Thomas Ivacko says less than half (38 percent) of Michigan's local leaders support the state's emergency manager law, while about a third (30 percent) oppose it and the rest are neutral or unsure,...

CLOSUP survey: Fiscal stress easing for Michigan's local governments, many still suffering

Sep 4, 2012

Only one-third of the local governments in Michigan say they are somewhat or significantly less able to meet their fiscal needs this year—a big drop from last year when nearly half reported having such difficulties, according to a University of...

In the news: Michigan Public Policy Survey on job performance of Governor Snyder, Michigan Legislature

Jul 25, 2012

The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy released a new Michigan Public Policy Survey about the popularity of Michigan's governor today. The survey, which polled 1,329 county and municipal officials, has quickly attracted media attention from...

CLOSUP survey: Michigan's local leaders more positive about Gov. Snyder, state's direction

Jul 25, 2012

Local government leaders in Michigan gave Gov. Rick Snyder a significantly higher job approval rating in 2012 compared to a year ago, and the officials were much more optimistic about the state's direction, a University of Michigan survey says.But...

CLOSUP survey: More local governments in Michigan using data to make decisions amid fiscal crisis

Jun 20, 2012

Just over two-thirds of Michigan's local governments say they use "data-driven decision making" as they try to cut costs and boost efficiency amid tough economic times, a new University of Michigan survey reports.Local governments collect and...

News

CLOSUP's Michigan Public Policy Survey on state funding incentives for local collaborations appears in local, regional news outlets

Apr 9, 2012

Findings from a recent Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) published by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) were cited in an Associated Press story published in a number of local and regional news sources including the Detroit...

CLOSUP survey: State funding incentives foster collaboration but also raise concerns

Mar 29, 2012

A new policy in Michigan that encourages local governments to collaborate and combine operations appears to be working, but it also carries a risk of producing unintended consequences, a new survey by the University of Michigan reports.For years,...

Michigan media cover Ford School discussion of controversial "Emergency Manager" law

Mar 21, 2012

Media throughout Michigan reported on the Ford School panel discussion regarding the state's new "Emergency Manager" law, technically known as Public Act 4 of 2011, the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act.The panel...

MPPS report about Economic Vitality Incentive Program appears in Associated Press, more

Jan 31, 2012

The latest Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), published Wednesday by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP), was detailed in an Associated Press story that was published in a number of papers, including the Chicago Tribune.The...

CLOSUP poll: Incentives working, but local officials in Michigan lukewarm about state funding reforms

Jan 25, 2012

Only a small minority of local officials in Michigan believe that major reforms in the way they receive state funding that require adoption of "dashboard" reports will be very effective in improving the overall performance of their governments.The...

Tom Ivacko pens two-part Dome op-ed about declining health of Michigan cities

Jan 23, 2012

The Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy's (CLOSUP) Tom Ivacko wrote a two-part column for Dome magazine about the declining health of Michigan cities and what is being done to combat this decline.In part one, "Michigan Cities Suffer Declining...

Tom Ivacko quoted in Bridge magazine article, "Merger bills won't change names on fire trucks—yet"

Dec 20, 2011

In light of six new Michigan merger bills, Tom Ivacko spoke to Bridge magazine about cost sharing findings from the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy's Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).These new bills, signed by Governor Rick Snyder on...

CLOSUP's Michigan Public Policy Survey cited in Center for Michigan article, "'Shadow tax cut' deepens local budget crises."

Dec 1, 2011

Data from the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy's (CLOSUP) latest Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) report was cited in a Center for Michigan article, "'Shadow tax cut' deepens local budget crises."The October 2011 MPPS report found that...