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MPPS in the news

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

May 9, 2022 Interlochen Public Radio

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...

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Michigan local leaders’ views on recycling: current challenges and opportunities for improvement

Apr 27, 2022

A new report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders on challenges their jurisdictions face and opportunities to introduce, expand, or improve recycling services. The findings are based on statewide surveys of local government...

MPPS in the news

DBusiness Daily Update: Survey: Michigan’s Leaders Express Importance of Recycling, and More

Mar 22, 2022 DBusiness.com

The majority of Michigan leaders report recycling is somewhat or very important to their community members, with 65 percent of officials from the state’s largest jurisdictions saying recycling issues are very important in their communities,...

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...

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Recycling Issues, Policies, and Practices among Michigan Local Governments

Mar 17, 2022

A new report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding a variety of recycling issues and policies in their jurisdictions, including what types of recycling services are offered in communities across the state, changes to...

In the Media

Flint, Mich., tap university researchers to boost financial transparency

Dec 2, 2021 StateScoop

Researchers at the University of Michigan on Wednesday announced plans to help Flint, Michigan, develop new open-data standards to improve the city’s financial...

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...

MPPS in the news

UM survey: State's local economies still struggling with COVID impacts

Sep 29, 2021 The Detroit News

Local governments in Michigan continue to struggle with the impacts of COVID-19 but at a lower rate than when the pandemic started in the spring of last year, according to a University of Michigan survey released...

In the Media

Five things for state leaders to consider at Mackinac Policy Conference

Sep 20, 2021 WWJ Newsradio 950

Pattie Vitale of WWJ Newsradio 950 interviews Tom Ivacko about the state's most pressing policy...

MPPS in the news

U-M expert: Challenges abound as leaders assemble for Mackinac Policy Conference

Sep 20, 2021 Michigan News, University of Michigan

Many of Michigan’s business, political and academic movers and shakers are gathering this week for the annual Mackinac Policy Conference after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s...

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Michigan local leaders expect increased challenges for the 2020 election, but are confident about administering accurate elections

Oct 5, 2020

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s township and city officials on issues related to election administration in their jurisdictions, including expected challenges and confidence in election security. Data from a parallel survey of...

In the Media

Michigan cities struggle to find transit funds, survey finds

Apr 29, 2015 Fierce Cities

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In the Media

Senate committee considering new oil tax bill (podcast included)

Apr 22, 2015 Prairie Public Radio

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In the Media

What should Ann Arbor do to avoid traffic gridlock? Council candidates weigh in

Apr 18, 2015 Mlive.com

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MPPS

Michigan local leaders’ views on recycling: current challenges and opportunities for improvement

April 27, 2022

This report is the second in a series on recycling issues in Michigan communities. It presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders on challenges their jurisdictions face and opportunities to introduce, expand, or improve recycling...

MPPS

Recycling Issues, Policies, and Practices among Michigan Local Governments

March 17, 2022

This report presents the views of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding a variety of recycling issues and policies in their jurisdictions, including what types of recycling services are offered in communities across the state, changes to...

Privatization of Local Government Services: Understanding Differences Across Michigan’s Urban- Rural Spectrum

June 1, 2021

Kristina Curtiss

For decades, municipalities have taken on numerous tasks that the private sector would have otherwise performed. Privatization of these services, and the way local governments prioritize them, draw into question the functioning of democracy. Be it...

MPPS

The functioning of democracy at the local level: a compendium of findings from the Michigan Public Policy Survey of local leaders

December 14, 2020

The Ford School’s Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) has released a new resource that summarizes Michigan local government leaders’ views on democracy and democratic governance. The findings come from the Michigan Public Policy...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders expect increased challenges for the 2020 election, but are confident about administering accurate elections

October 5, 2020

Fiscal Strategy Memos

Fiscal Strategies: Regionalizing Services

August 18, 2020

Jill Roof, Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Tucker Staley, Eastern Michigan University, Meredith Days, University of Michigan

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

Fiscal Strategy Memos

Fiscal Strategies: Should We Contract This Service Out?

May 14, 2020

Tucker Staley, Eastern Michigan University

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

MPPS

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

December 1, 2019

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 10...

MPPS

Community poverty and the struggle to make ends meet in Michigan, according to local government leaders

March 1, 2019

This report presents the views of Michigan’s local government officials regarding poverty and economic hardship among residents in their jurisdiction, as well as assessments of unmet needs for particular services and resources. In addition, the...

MPPS

Despite sustained economic growth, Michigan local government fiscal health still lags

November 1, 2018

MPPS

Local leaders’ views on elections in Michigan: accuracy, problems, and reform options

November 1, 2017

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders on issues related to election administration in their jurisdictions, including problems encountered, worker recruitment and training, updating voting equipment, and potential...

Student Working Papers

The Need for Increased Police Funding in Detroit

April 1, 2017

Lucas Ryan

Detroit, for all intents and purposes, used to be one of the most thriving cities in the United States. Following the end of World War Two, the auto industry in Detroit was one of the most promising the world. In 1950, Detroit was home to roughly...

Student Working Papers

Privatizing the Public Sphere: Should Governments Outsource Health and Human Services?

April 1, 2017

Allana Akhtar

Local governments in the state and across the country are trending towards outsourcing services to private companies. Although many of these services currently outsource to legal or technical companies to fill knowledge gaps among public employees,...

Student Working Papers

Public Mass Transportation in West Michigan: The Case for Expanding Services

April 1, 2017

David W. Baker

This policy research paper explores the issues of public mass transportation in the region of West Michigan. It considers the current state of public mass transportation in the region. An effort is made to look for and uncover disparities between...

MPPS

Local government leaders' views on drinking water and water supply infrastructure in Michigan communities

November 1, 2016

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ assessments of issues related to the provision of drinking water in their communities, including threats to water safety, the condition of infrastructure, challenges regarding shared local...

MPPS

Emergency Medical Services in Michigan: challenges and approaches among local governments

July 1, 2016

This report presents Michigan local government leaders’ concerns regarding assessments of ambulance and emergency medical services in their jurisdiction, including how these services are provided and funded. The findings are based on statewide...