1981 Publications

A Special Memorandum on the Financial Condition and Outlook of the City of Highland Park, Michigan
Memo, ( December 81 ) 8 pages

The Michigan Tax Limitation Amendment -- State Revenue and Spending Limits
CC 927, ( November 81 ) 4 pages

--- See also CC #947 and #949, and Misc. Report ---

The State Revenue and Spending Limits
Memo, ( October 81 ) 18 pages

The Proposed Wayne County Charter
CC 926, ( October 81 ) 4 pages

On November 3, 1981, Wayne County voters were asked to decide whether Wayne County should become a home rule county through adoption of one of two proposed charters. This paper described the significance of that vote, explained potential changes, and walked through the voting process with two questions on the ballot.

---See also #968, 67">#967, #966, and Report #286 ---

State Limitations on Local Taxes and Spending (Letter of '9/29 (with memo))
Misc., ( September 81 ) 5 pages

"The Auto Industry in the 1980s -- Challenge and Commitment," F. James McDonald, President GM, Remarks at Annual Meeting
Misc., ( September 81 ) 12 pages

The Proposed Wayne County Charter
Report 275, ( September 81 ) 45 pages

Detroit Ballot Issue -- Should Decentralization of the Detroit School District be Continued?
CC 925, ( August 81 ) 2 pages

Michigan's Growing Cash Deficit
CC 924, ( July 81 ) 6 pages

Outline of the Michigan Tax System (Eleventh Edition)
CC 923, ( June 81 ) 23 pages

Summary of state and local taxes, recent tax changes, and table of tax collections.
[Because this publication is revised every two years, past editions have not been made available for download. Please contact CRC to obtain a copy past editions. ]

State Ballot Issues: Proposal A -- State Subsidy of Local Taxes
CC 922, ( May 81 ) 8 pages

(defeated 28% for to 72% against)

Wayne County Charter Issues ... County Services
Report 274, ( April 81 ) 39 pages

Several provisions in the County Charter Act address the matter of providing services and issuing regulations under a charter county government. In this paper we address those matters relating to services and regulations that the Wayne County Charter Commission should consider. Our purpose is not to discuss organization and structure of the charter county government although necessarily, on occasion, we will touch upon those concerns.

--- See also CC 926 ---

Wayne County Charter Issues ... Employee Retirement
Report 273, ( April 81 ) 18 pages

Wayne County Charter Issues ... Debt Concepts and Provisions for Michigan Charter County Government
Report 272, ( April 81 ) 12 pages

The purpose of this paper is to review concepts related to authorizing debt provisions under the Constitution of the State of Michigan and to define the issues involved in developing debt provisions for the Wayne County Charter. This paper will also analyze debt provision alternatives by comparing the concepts of such provisions for the Wayne County Charter. This paper does not seek to analyze statutory provisions pursuant to which county debt may currently be incurred or to suggest any revisions to such provisions which might be necessary to desirable in the implementation of any of the debt authorizing concepts discussed herein.

Wayne County Charter Issues ... Personnel Management
Report 271, ( March 81 ) 14 pages

Wayne County Charter Issues ... The Legislative Branch
Report 270, ( March 81 ) 28 pages

The purpose of this paper is to review concepts related to potential reforms of the legislative branch that could be proposed in a charter county form of government. This paper will examine the lawmaking, legislative oversight, and constituent services functions of a county commission and consider different aspects of organization and power that would empower the commission to carry out those responsibilities in a charter county. The task of the Wayne County Charter Commission is to seek a balance in the charter provisions by creating a board of commissioners that is both politically and administratively efficient.

Wayne County Charter Issues ... Financial Processes
Report 269, ( March 81 ) 22 pages

The purpose of this report on financial processes is to provide a broad background of conditions, concepts, and ideas related to sound principles of good financial practice to the Wayne County Charter Commission to enable it to develop a sound, flexible and forward looking financial management program for Wayne County government for at least the next 10 years. There may be no greater responsibility placed upon public officials than the fiduciary burden of being able, effective stewards of the public resources entrusted to their use for the provision of services which are the unique province of the public trust of elected representatives. Over the last 20 years, public officials have been privileged to participate in the management of the fastest growing component of our national economy. It is the purpose of this overview to set forth a scenario of what might be the prospect for the 1980s regarding the availability of public funds and how the public officials in Wayne County government might fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities as they are affected by these economic, political, and legal directions.

Wayne County Charter Issues ... Labor Relations Management
Report 268, ( March 81 ) 16 pages

This study surveys Wayne County labor relations management and offers a brief outline and assessment of alternative policies available through adoption of a charter. The charter cannot diminish the right of Wayne County employees to bargain collectively or contravene the state laws, regulations, and judicial decisions which delineate the bargaining relationship between the county and its employees. Nor can the charter substantively alter established contractual obligations such as salaries, fringe benefits, and negotiated personnel policies. The Michigan Supreme Court has held that the duty to bargain supersedes charter provisions. The Michigan charter county act also protects "the rights and status of persons under the civil service system". Nevertheless, the charter will determine the structure of county labor relations management and this management will in turn influence both the pattern of labor relations and the substance of future contractual agreements.

Charter adoption will affect three broad areas of county labor relations management. First, it will substantially alter the relative distribution of labor relations authority between the legislative and executive branches of county government. Second, it may alter the administrative structure specifically assigned responsibility for management bargaining and contract administration. Third, it may establish certain specific labor management policies to the extent that these are not already prescribed through state laws and regulations or contractual agreements. This study discusses each of these areas in turn and then summarizes the major alternatives.

Wayne County Charter Issues ... County Administrative Organization
Report 267, ( March 81 ) 15 pages

Once the office of county executive or administrator has been provided for, a second major task which will confront the Wayne County Charter Commission will be the development of an overall plan of organization for the entire executive branch of county government. Since Wayne now utilizes the traditional commission form, the county government presently contains a broad array of offices, departments, boards, commissions and related agencies, performing a wide variety of functions and in many instances enjoying substantial autonomy. It will be the responsibility of the charter commission to systematize and reorganize these many units into a coherent whole. Since the great majority of the units found in a reorganized executive arm will report to the top officer of the county, the new structure in general will be built around that office.

Wayne County Charter Issues ... Historical and Present Role of County Government in Michigan
Report 266, ( February 81 ) 19 pages

This paper was published to provide some perspectives about county government--how it came to be and how its purpose and function evolved over time The first section of this paper will deal with the beginnings of county government and its development in the U.S. and in Michigan. The second and third segments will review some of the ways Michigan state government relates to the counties in the state and how counties relate to the municipal jurisdictions within them. Finally, the paper discusses the nature of the charter in the context of county government.

Wayne County Charter Issues ... Elected County Executive/Chief Administrative Officer
Report 265, ( February 81 ) 16 pages

This paper will examine the role of the elected county executive or appointed chief administrative officer in a restructured county government based on experience in other reorganized counties. A separate paper in this series looks at an overall plan of organization of the executive branch.

Wayne County Charter Commission Standing Committee Recommendations
Misc., ( June 81 )

Local Government Tax & Expenditure Limitations
Misc., ( June 81 )

The Michigan Tax Limitation Amendment--Current Status & Issues I. The State Revenue and Spending Limits
Misc., ( June 81 ) 18 pages

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Last Updated February 5, 2014