Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

To the best of your knowledge, has the quality of decision-making by local officials increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

To the best of your knowledge, has the workload or time demands on jurisdiction's personnel increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

To the best of your knowledge, has the demands on jurisdiction's budget increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

To the best of your knowledge, has the officials' control over decision-making increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

To the best of your knowledge, has the citizens' trust in your jurisdiction's government increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

As far as you know, is it likely that your jurisdiction will either reduce or expand its citizen engagement efforts within the next 12 months?

Recently, has there been one (or more) particular issue(s) facing your jurisdiction that generated a significant increase in citizen engagement with your local government?

Recently, has there been one (or more) particular issue(s) facing your jurisdiction that generated a significant increase in citizen engagement with your local government?

Recently, has there been one (or more) particular issue(s) facing your jurisdiction that generated a significant increase in citizen engagement with your local government?

Does your jurisdiction specifically reach out to any groups that typically might not engage in your policymaking processes?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that most citizens you hear from are more interested in complaining than in finding solutions?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that in your jurisdiction's policymaking processes, any citizen who wants to express an opinion has the chance to do so?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that you make opportunities for engagement available, but your citizens rarely take advantage of them?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that you don't need formal engagement efforts because your local officials already know what citizens want?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that some of your best engagement with citizens happens informally around the community (such as at the grocery store or in a restaurant, etc.)?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your meetings run too long because too many citizens want to speak?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction should pursue engagement with a broader range of citizens?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that citizens in your jurisdiction want access to information about the government's performance?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that most citizens aren't willing to take the time to become well-informed on issues facing the jurisdiction?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that important decisions facing your jurisdiction typically have already been made prior to most public meetings?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction's engagement efforts mostly attract the same people over and over?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction's decision-making is transparent to your citizens?

Citizens are often asked on opinion surveys how much trust they have in their government. Now we'd like to ask you, as a local official, about trust you have in your jurisdiction's citizens. In terms of their engagement in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations, how much time do you think you can trust the citizens in your community to be responsible participants?

Would you say that most citizens who are engaged in your jurisdiction's policymaking processes are generally looking out only for themselves or that they want decisions made for the benefit of the community overall?

Thinking about controversial issues in your community, in general, who do you think should have the final say on your jurisdiction's most controversial decisions — citizens or public officials?