LOCAL GOVERNMENTWhat reporters need to know

PUBLIC AFFAIRS JOURNALISM

The purpose of public affairs journalism is to give citizens the information they need to be free and self-governing.

Media serves as a watchdog on the government.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Three levels- Directly involved – elected or appointed officials, staff, developers, etc.- Interested and knowledgeable.- Uninvolved unless directly affected – the NIMBY crowd.

CHALLENGES FOR JOURNALISTS

NIMBYS- Provide what they need when they want it

Interested/knowledgeable – satisfy their interest for information.

Directly involved – be a watchdog. Translate government-speak into

everyday language.

GOVERNMENT POWERS

Power to tax – property, income. Spend – for public purposes. Adopt policies. Make laws – zoning, speed limits, etc.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Counties Townships Municipalities – cities and villages Special districts – library,

transportation, airports, water supply, TIFA, DDA, historic

Public schools Courts

USEFUL DISTINCTIONS I

Operating and capital funds- Operating (annual budget) – pays for day-to-day operations, salaries/benefits, office supplies, heat, lights, fuel, etc.- Capital (long-range budget) – pays for big-ticket items – infrastructure, heavy equipment

USEFUL DISTINCTIONS II

Legislative and executive roles- Legislative – sets policies, enacts laws, oversees executive. Elected officials.- Executive – carries out policies, enforces laws, runs day-to-day operations. City manager, county administrator, police chief.

USEFUL DISTINCTIONS III

Line and staff functions- Line – external, serving citizens. Prosecutor as the county’s chief law enforcement officer.- Staff – internal, serving officials. Prosecutor as legal adviser to county board.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Primarily from property tax. Some levy income tax.

Property tax = millage.- A mill – a $1 tax on each $1,000 of taxable value of land, buildings and commercial industrial machinery and equipment.

OTHER REVENUE SOURCES

Fees and charges- Recreation, sewer, water, recycling, etc.- Pay to play in schools.

Revenue sharing – state and federal Grants

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Big items- Salaries and benefits – teachers, staff, retirees- Law enforcement – staff and equipment.- Capital projects – the infrastructure: buildings, streets, sewers

BALANCED BUDGETS

Required by the state constitution- Budgeted expenses cannot exceed budgeted revenue.- Taxes, fees and other revenue must be set to cover anticipated expenses.- Reserves must be drawn down or money borrowed if need to balance the budget.

FUND BALANCE

Fund balance (or fund equity) is a term governments use to describe “rainy day” funds – savings accounts.

Some governments have policies requiring a certain amount must be set aside – 10-15 percent of the total budget is fairly common.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S CHALLENGES Revenue stagnant or declining

- Michigan’s economy suffering Expenses rising – salaries, benefits,

pensions, energy costs. Struggle to strike a balance between

services provided and dwindling income.

IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC

Safe neighborhoods Safe water Garbage and sewage disposal Roads and streets Education of children Planned development Resolving legal disputes Taxes

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Counties Municipalities – cities and villages Townships Special districts Public schools Courts

COUNTIES

Basic unit of local government. All but three states (Connecticut,

Rhode Island, Hawaii) have counties. Some are called parishes, boroughs. Governing boards called “free holders,”

supervisors, judges, jurors, commissioners.

COUNTIES IN MICHIGAN

State is divided into 83 counties. Uncentralized functions overseen by

county board and semi-autonomous agencies with elected officials.

Dual role – agents of state government, unit of local government.

COUNTIES AS STATE AGENTS

Carry out functions the state would have to do if there were no counties. For example:- Prosecutors enforce state laws.- Registers of deeds maintain land records.- Clerks administer elections.

COUNTIES AS LOCAL UNITS

Carry out programs that primarily benefit local populations, such as:- Local roads- Parks and recreation- Planning and development- Senior citizen services

CITIES AND VILLAGES

Voluntary incorporations of more densely populated territory.

Many are chartered (home rule) Provide a wide range of services

- Law enforcement- Water and sewer- Planning and development- Parks and recreation

MICHIGAN CITIES AND VILLAGES

Remain with their counties- Mt. Pleasant and Shepherd residents also reside in Isabella County.

Villages remain within townships- Shepherd residents also reside in Coe Township.

Cities are withdrawn from townships- Mt. Pleasant residents are not residents of Union Township.

MICHIGAN TOWNSHIPS

If you don’t live in a city, you live in a township.

Most states don’t have this layer of government.

Townships perform functions related to tax assessment and collection, elections.

They may also provide services such as fire protection, law enforcement, planning, etc.

SPECIAL DISTRICTS

Specific area set up as a taxing unit to pay for a project. For example – sewer and water, recreation.

May be set up to take advantage of state or federal programs or grants.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Every Michigan resident lives in a public school district.

Districts often overlap city, township and even county boundaries.

Elected school boards set policy for professional administrators.

LOCAL EDUCATION REPORTING

Parents are often and involved and interested citizenry when their children are in school.

National and state involvement is increasing, complicating coverage.

School funding is changing rapidly.

PROPOSAL A

1994 Michigan constitutional amendment that governs school finance.- Previously, local school districts controlled funding. Proposal A placed the state government in control of funding.- Makes school districts dependent on enrollment – not the local tax base – for funding.

COURTS – CRIMINAL VS. CIVIL

Criminal cases- Crimes against the state- Punishable by fines and/or jail or prison

Civil cases- Disputes between private parties- Result in awards (damages)

COURTS IN MICHIGAN

Trial courts- District – intake court for all crimes. Trial court for misdemeanors, minor civil cases.- Circuit – trial court for felonies, larger civil cases. - Probate – wills, estate, juvenile

Some county courts have combined these functions under a chief judge.

QUESTIONS?