Finnish Local Government Barometer 1995: Municipal Managers, Chairmen of Municipal Executive Boards

The survey studied the opinions of municipal leaders (municipal managers and chairpersons of municipal executive boards) on how to improve municipal finances. The respondents evaluated how acceptable and effective certain measures would be: e.g. borrowing, increasing taxes, cutting or privatizing services, introducing service fees, delaying investments, accountability in municipal institutions, reducing salaries, laying off/reducing staff, and reducing governmental control. The respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statements relating to municipal finances, services and taxation, the number and size of municipalities, efficiency of municipal staff, relations between the government and municipalities, etc. Opinions on which municipal services could be cut were charted. One question asked about changes in the services over the past two years. The respondents were also asked which of the services currently provided by municipalities could be left to other bodies (governmental or non-governmental organisations, private enterprises, or citizens themselves). Some questions covered to what extent various operators influence municipal decision-making (e.g. municipal managers, banks, enterprises, parties, trade unions, the church) and whether certain operators have too much or too little influence. The respondents also rated the usefulness of some national and regional bodies in the development of their municipalities. Opinions on governmental control and regional administration were charted. Finally, the respondents evaluated media reporting on municipal issues. Background variables include the respondent's sex, status in municipal administration, municipality size, and province.

本调查旨在探究市政领导（市政管理人员及市政执行委员会主席）对于如何改善市政财政的看法。受访者对一系列措施的可接受性和有效性进行了评估，例如：借款、增税、削减或私有化服务、引入服务费、推迟投资、市政机构的问责制、降低薪酬、裁员/减少员工、以及减少政府控制。受访者还被要求对与市政财政、服务及税收、市政数量及规模、市政工作人员效率、政府与市政之间的关系等相关的多个陈述的认同程度进行评价。对哪些市政服务可以被削减的意见进行了统计。其中一个问题询问了过去两年服务的变化。受访者还被询问哪些目前由市政提供的公共服务可以交给其他机构（政府或非政府组织、私营企业或公民本身）处理。一些问题涉及不同操作者（例如市政管理人员、银行、企业、政党、工会、教会）对市政决策的影响程度，以及某些操作者是否拥有过多或过少的影响。受访者还对一些国家级和区域性机构在其市政发展中的作用的有用性进行了评价。对政府控制和区域管理的意见进行了统计。最后，受访者对市政问题媒体报道的质量进行了评估。背景变量包括受访者的性别、在市政管理中的地位、市政规模以及省份。