what reporters need to know. the purpose of public affairs journalism is to give citizens the...
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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?