local government | Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
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Partisan divide felt less at local level, writes Ivacko

Jan 9, 2019
In an opinion column for Governing, Tom Ivacko (MPP ’93), associate director of CLOSUP, breaks down the latest Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) findings on civil discourse in Michigan localities.“Will the National Partisan Breakdown Infect Our...

Few local leaders satisfied with public transit options

Apr 29, 2015
By Greta Guest, Michigan NewsA minority of Michigan's local leaders say they're satisfied with public transit options in their communities, but a lack of funding and other issues present roadblocks to improvements, a University of Michigan survey...
State & Hill

Cities, where sustainability leadership begins

Dec 9, 2014
Matt Naud, environmental coordinator for the city of Ann Arbor, talks environmental innovation   Fourteen years ago, the City of Ann Arbor launched a new commission on the environment. The group would report annually on the state of the...
CLOSUP Lecture Series, Conversations Across Differences

The functioning of democracy across the urban-rural spectrum

Nov 16, 2020, 11:00-11:55 am EST
Free and open to the public – this is a virtual webinar on Zoom - please register! Student researchers will share their research on the similarities and differences across the urban/rural continuum with respect to: the state of civic discourse; public participation in decision-making; citizen engagement; internet connectivity and access to information; and privatization of local government services.  

Public Perceptions of Renewable Energy: How to Constructively Advocate at the Local Level & Helping Communities Set Policies

Mar 10, 2020, 10:30 am-12:00 pm EDT
Weill Hall, Room 5240
As demand for renewable energy grows, wind energy and solar energy developers are looking for communities to host these projects.  In this session, Dr. Sarah Mills will talk about what we know about public perceptions of renewable energy in the communities where wind and solar projects are proposed.  She'll draw mostly on her research understanding community reactions to wind energy projects in Michigan, extrapolate what that means for solar energy.  
Ford School
CFLP Blue Bag Lunches

Local Government Fiscal Health: Do subjective self-assessments match "the numbers"?

Mar 14, 2019, 12:00-1:00 pm EDT
Jeffries Hall Room 0220
Local government fiscal health is typically assessed using objective financial indicators, but little is understood about how local officials subjectively understand their own fiscal health. We compare self-assessment data from the Michigan Public Policy Survey with financial data on Michigan local governments to explore the extent to which self-assessments align with conventional financial indicators. Qualitative results reveal that local officials emphasize long-term spending pressures (e.g. roads, infrastructure) and external factors, such as uncertainty around property values and state aid (i.e. revenue sharing) payments, when assessing their fiscal health. Quantitative results provide some corroborating evidence, but in general, conventional indicators are not powerful predictors of self-assessments, especially for high-stress governments. We believe that part of the disparity is that financial indicators do a poor job of capturing what local officials say they are most worried about. We suggest that self-assessments may be a useful supplement to conventional measures in capturing “true” fiscal health.

Wolverine Caucus: How We Fund Local Government: Michigan's Local Leaders See Need For Reform

Feb 13, 2013, 11:30 am-1:00 pm EST
Christman/MML Building
Over the last decade, local government in Michigan has experienced widespread contraction. Driven by falling revenues and rising costs, local jurisdictions have been forced to adjust to a "new normal" by right-sizing themselves to live within reduced means. The Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS), conducted by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, has tracked the fiscal challenges facing Michigan's local governments over the last 4 years, and how they've been responding.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

How we fund local government: Michigan's local leaders see need for reform

Feb 13, 2013, 3:00-4:00 pm EST
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy 5th Floor Seminar Room
Presenting the findings on the system of funding of local government. About the Michigan Public Policy Survey The Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) is a program of state-wide surveys of local government leaders in Michigan. The MPPS is designed to fill an important information gap in the policymaking process.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

How Are Michigan Local Governments Coping with Fiscal Stress?

Oct 21, 2010, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy 5th Floor Seminar Room
11th Annual Lent Upson Lecture at Wayne State University – Spring 2010 MPPS fiscal data findings The Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) is a program of state-wide surveys of local government leaders in Michigan. The MPPS is designed to fill an important information gap in the policymaking process. While there are ongoing surveys of the business community and of the citizens of Michigan, before the MPPS there were no ongoing surveys of local government officials that were representative of all general purpose local governments in the state.
Ford School
CLOSUP Lecture Series

Local Government Fiscal and Economic Development Issues: Michigan Public Policy Survey

Sep 24, 2010, 3:00-4:00 pm EDT
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy 5th Floor Seminar Room
Michigan Municipal League (MML) Annual Convention – Spring 2009 MPPS fiscal data findings The Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) is a program of state-wide surveys of local government leaders in Michigan. The MPPS is designed to fill an important information gap in the policymaking process. While there are ongoing surveys of the business community and of the citizens of Michigan, before the MPPS there were no ongoing surveys of local government officials that were representative of all general purpose local governments in the state.
Ford School