Policy Topics

Civic Engagement

Showing 31 - 60 of 201 results

MPPS in the news

Survey: Public buildings, parks top priority list for Michigan officials spending COVID relief funds

Jul 29, 2022 Michigan Radio

A new University of Michigan survey shows more than half of local governments in Michigan plan to spend federal COVID-relief funds on public buildings and parks. Michigan towns, counties and cities are receiving billions of dollars from the federal...

In the Media

The University of Michigan moves to modernize government financial reporting

Jun 17, 2022 Reason Foundation

In 2002, three academic researchers proposed applying eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) to state and local government financial reporting to make municipal data more digestible and publicly available. Now 20 years later, the University...

In the Media

University of Michigan and XBRL US Launch Public Review of Government Data Standards

Jun 16, 2022 Yahoo!

XBRL US, a nonprofit standards organization, and the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) at University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, announced the publication of digital financial data standards for local...

In the Media

University of Michigan and XBRL US Launch Public Review of Government Data Standards

Jun 16, 2022 Bloomberg.com

In the Media

MSU creates tool to measure election fairness district-wide

Jun 15, 2022 The State News

Michigan State University recently launched the Partisan Advantage Tracker, a user-friendly tool that helps the public assess election fairness and track election outcomes. MSU Professor of Economics and Political Science Jon X. Eguia collaborated...

MPPS in the news

Survey: Half Of Local Gov'ts Negative On Remote Hearings

Jun 3, 2022 Gongwer (subscription required)

A statewide survey of local governments found that nearly half of local officials found the conducting of meetings remotely decreased the overall quality of government meetings. The findings were part of a spring 2021 survey from the Michigan Public...

CLOSUP Updates

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

May 26, 2022

A new 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...

CLOSUP Updates

Partisan Advantage Tracker

May 16, 2022

The IPPSR Partisan Advantage Tracker is a tool to evaluate congressional district maps drawn for the U.S. House of Representatives. The Tracker measures how much these maps favor one political party over another, in each state, and nationwide. Visit...

Map of United States showing partisan fairness metrics for redistricting

MPPS in the news

Michigan leaders support recycling programs, but struggle to implement

May 14, 2022 Mlive

Leaders of Michigan communities both large and small overwhelmingly agree recycling remains important, but they face challenges to implement recycling programs for their residents. A recent University of Michigan public policy survey showed...

MPPS in the news

Short-Changing Michigan Local Governments Has Resulted in Deteriorating Water Systems and Other Services

May 12, 2022 Circle of Blue

Michigan has had its share of disasters. Dams collapsed after heavy rains, flooding Midland. A sinkhole the size of a football field was caused by a sewer collapse in Macomb County. And in Flint, children were exposed to lead-contaminated...

MPPS in the news

Short-changing Michigan local governments has resulted in deteriorating water systems and other services

May 9, 2022 Interlochen Public Radio

MPPS in the news

A brief change in Michigan’s local government is due to the deterioration of the water system

May 9, 2022 Michigan News Time

Another tax change also occurred due to the Great Recession. Sales taxes are sent to the state, and some are redistributed to cities, villages and towns. Part of this is provided by the Constitution. The second formula, called the statutory share,...

MPPS in the news

Short-changing Michigan local governments tied to deteriorating water systems

May 9, 2022 Bridge Michigan

MPPS in the news

Short-changing Michigan local governments has resulted in deteriorating water systems and other services

May 9, 2022 Great Lakes Now

MPPS in the news

Report: A majority of Michigan has access to recycling services

May 2, 2022 Michigan Radio

An overwhelming majority of Michigan’s residents have access to at least some form of recycling in the state. That’s according to a new report from the University of...

In the Media

Ford's $5.6B Tennessee investment pulled into dustup between small town and state officials

Mar 18, 2022 The Detroit News

Ford Motor Co.'s $5.6 billion investment in west Tennessee is being cited in a controversial move by the state's Comptroller of the Treasury to take financial control of a small, predominantly Black town just miles from Blue Oval City, the future...

In the Media

Analysis: Michigan GOP lawmakers silent as party leader, others spread incendiary rhetoric

Feb 10, 2022 Detroit Free Press

An unceasing stream of social media posts and statements recently from both well-known and low-profile Michigan Republicans promoting radical actions by their followers are prompting accusations of racism and violence. The rhetoric and its purveyors...

In the Media

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Gears up for a Reelection Fight

Feb 8, 2022 Hour Detroit

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has a different, possibly truly novel reason for refusing to say whether she’d run for governor or some other job in 2026 if she wins a second four-year term in 2022: She’s not entirely sure American...

MPPS in the news

The Russians Are Coming: Are Beijing And Moscow At The Cusp Of A Formal Alliance?

Feb 3, 2022 Scoop NZ

It should matter little to the Chinese that American diplomats and a handful of their western allies will not be attending the Beijing Winter Olympics in February. What truly matters is that the Russians are...

MPPS in the news

Michigan local government officials worry about local impacts of national political discord

Jan 26, 2022 MyScience

In the face of a worsening national political tone, civic discourse on the local level in Michigan remains generally positive, according to elected officials across the state. This is true concerning both interaction among elected officials, and...

In the Media

Ford School event reflects on Michigan redistricting process

Jan 21, 2022 Daily Advent

The Ford School of Public Policy held a virtual discussion Wednesday evening reflecting on Michigan’s citizen-led redistricting process and discussed how lessons from that process could be applied to the rest of the United States. This event was...

In the Media

Ford School event reflects on Michigan redistricting process

Jan 20, 2022 The Michigan Daily

In the Media

Redistricting Commission splits Hillsdale County into two state Senate districts in new political map

Jan 20, 2022 The Hillsdale Collegian

Hillsdale County will be split into two different state Senate districts under a plan approved by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission on Dec. 28. On the new map, Hillsdale and Jonesville are in district 16 and Allen and...

MPPS in the news

Mich. local officials' confidence in democracy in the state and country wanes, survey finds

Nov 20, 2021 Holland Sentinel

While Michigan local officials continue to express confidence in democracy's functioning in their own backyards, their confidence in democracy in the state and country has withered significantly over the past year, according to a...

MPPS in the news

Mich. local officials' confidence in democracy in the state and country wanes, survey finds

Nov 20, 2021 Cheboygan Daily Tribune

MPPS in the news

Mich. local officials' confidence in democracy in the state and country wanes, survey finds

Nov 20, 2021 Yahoo! News

MPPS in the news

Mich. local officials' confidence in democracy in the state and country wanes, survey finds

Nov 18, 2021 Detroit Free Press

In the Media

U-M expert on redistricting: The road back and ahead

Nov 16, 2021 Michigan News, University of Michigan

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is nearing the end of its work to draft new maps in an effort to end partisan gerrymandering. The mission was straightforward—use an independent commission instead of the state legislature...

MPPS in the news

Michigan governments sit on $11B from stimulus, as needs grow every day

Oct 25, 2021 Bridge Michigan

Battle Creek — Helping residents pay off nearly $2 million in delinquent utility bills. Expanding high-speed internet access. Making major repairs at a wastewater treatment plant. There’s no shortage of ideas on how to spend a $30.5 million...

In the Media

Study questions whether Michigan's newly proposed political maps will adequately represent Black voters

Oct 19, 2021 WKAR

Will maps newly proposed political maps adequately represent Black...