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Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs

The Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs at Miami University engages in applied research, technical assistance services, training and education, public management and capacity building, local government economic development and planning, and public program evaluation and policy research.

Welcome Our New Director and Research Fellow

Patrick Haney The CPMRA is pleased to announce Patrick Haney, Ph.D. as our new Director. The summer months will be used for transition. We are excited to see where he takes the CPMRA going forward!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Sarah LarsonThe CPMRA is pleased to announce Sarah E. Larson, Ph.D. as our new Research Fellow. Sarah's research areas within public finance include understanding the impacts of state and local sales and property taxation policy changes.  Sarah also brings a wealth of practical experience in contractual state and local government researcg from her time as a Senior Research Associate at the Center for State and Local Finance and Fiscal Research Center at Georgia State University.

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Brigham McCownThe CPMRA is pleased to announce Brigham McCown, J.D. as our new Research Fellow and Executive in Residence. Brigham's career spans over three decades of corporate, non-profit, academic, and government service as a federal regulator and chief legal officer, corporate CEO, and a trusted advisor to governmental and private entities across a wide variety of legal and policy topics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Anne WilliamsonThe CPMRA is pleased to announce Anne Williamson, Ph.D. as our new Research Fellow. Anne's experience includes leadership in public and private organizations and extensive public service outreach activities with federal, state, and local government, as well as nonprofit organizations, through university research centers.

The Center’s activities have been funded by external grants and contracts from a number of funding sources including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration; the Ohio Public Works Commission; and the Ohio Township Association. The Center’s primary efforts are directed towards student-centered research and assistance to small/non-metropolitan cities, villages, townships, and counties. Center projects are initiated upon request from local governments or by Center staff as an ongoing program for various local governments in the region and statewide. The Center operates with the director, professional staff, and also draws upon Miami University faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students in public administration, policy analysis, political science, environmental sciences, and geography.

Miami University maintains a solid commitment to public service. The activities initiated by the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs stand as a centerpiece of Miami University’s public service mission. Numerous local governments (cities, villages, townships, and counties) and non-profit organizations across Ohio have benefited from direct applied research projects. For example, the Center conducted a citizen attitudes and public opinion survey for Hanover Township in Butler County, and the Center assisted with the development of the Scioto Foundation's University/College Access Network (UCAN). In addition, the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs had been designated as a University Center by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration.

The Center signed and has maintained a cooperative agreement with the Ohio Township Association since 1995. In conjunction with OTA, the Center produces the Ohio Township Trustee Sourcebook, the Ohio Township Fiscal Officer Sourcebook, the Ohio Township Personnel Management Sourcebook, and the Ohio Township Zoning Sourcebook. This four-volume set (Township Sourcebook Series) has been designated by the Ohio Township Association as the recommended resource publication for township officials in Ohio.

Project Assistance may be available in the following areas:

  • Community Surveys
  • Computer and Information Management
  • Economic and Community Development
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Goal-Setting, Team-Building, and Strategic Planning
  • Local Government Management and Human Resources
  • Training for Elected and Appointed Officials

Township Sourcebooks

Published in cooperation with the Ohio Township Association, the four-volume sourcebook series is intended to aid in township governance and management. Each sourcebook provides an informational resource for elected Township officials about the functions and duties of their position. The Township Trustee Sourcebook examines responsibilities particular to the elected office of Township Trustee. As the other elected Township official, Fiscal Officers have a different set of responsibilities which are presented in the Township Fiscal Officer Sourcebook. The third volume in the sourcebook series provides an overview of the personnel management function and recommended policies and procedures. The Township Zoning Sourcebook is the latest addition to the Township Sourcebook Series and was first published in 2009. It is designed to provide township officials with an general overview of township planning and zoning, related issues and recommended practices. The Trustee Sourcebook was updated in 2018. The Fiscal Officer Sourcebook was updated in 2020. Personnel and Zoning sourcebooks were updated in 2013. All sourcebook orders are processed through the OTA office. Please contact the OTA with any questions about ordering sourcebooks.

cover of trustee sourcebook

Township Trustee Sourcebook, 2018 edition

Individual Cost: $25 + $8 Shipping

Two-Volume Set (Choose any two volumes): $40 + $9 Shipping

Three-Volume Set (Choose any three volumes): $60 + $10 Shipping

Four-Volume Set (1 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $75 + $11 Shipping

Complete Township Set (3 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $100 + $13 Shipping

cover of fiscal officer sourcebook

Township Fiscal Officer Sourcebook, 2020 edition

Individual Cost: $25 + $8 Shipping

Two-Volume Set (Choose any two volumes): $40 + $9 Shipping

Three-Volume Set (Choose any three volumes): $60 + $10 Shipping

Four-Volume Set (1 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $75 + $11 Shipping

Complete Township Set (3 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $100 + $13 Shipping

cover of personnel management sourcebook

Township Personnel Management Sourcebook, 2013 edition

Individual Cost: $25 + $8 Shipping

Two-Volume Set (Choose any two volumes): $40 + $9 Shipping

Three-Volume Set (Choose any three volumes): $60 + $10 Shipping

Four-Volume Set (1 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $75 + $11 Shipping

Complete Township Set (3 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $100 + $13 Shipping

cover of zoning sourcebook

Township Zoning Sourcebook, 2013 edition

Individual Cost: $25 + $8 Shipping

Two-Volume Set (Choose any two volumes): $40 + $9 Shipping

Three-Volume Set (Choose any three volumes): $60 + $10 Shipping

Four-Volume Set (1 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $75 + $11 Shipping

Complete Township Set (3 Trustee, 1 Fiscal Officer, 1 Personnel, and 1 Zoning): $100 + $13 Shipping

CPMRA Projects

Survey Research, Strategic Planning, and Records Retention

Conducting SURVEY RESEARCH is a valuable experience for Miami's public administration students, as well as the community interested in seeking the level of citizen satisfaction, service delivery, and/or consumption patterns. Students learn "real world" applications of their local government and research statistics coursework; while, local leaders can take a "snapshot" approach to community opinions. Examples where students teams have developed the survey instrument, analyzed the findings, prepared a final report, and presented findings to local leaders include Oxford Township (Butler County), the City of Springboro (Warren County), and the Village of Farmersville (Montgomery County).

One response to change is STRATEGIC PLANNING. A variety of programs have been developed and facilitated by the professional staff of the Center. In the City of Clayton (Montgomery County), local leadership developed an issue agenda; in the Village of Union City (Darke County), a citizen advisory group was concerned with quality-of-life issues; and in West Milton (Miami County), the Community Improvement Corporation board members were interested in establishing goals and objectives.

The Center can provide expertise and assistance in developing a comprehensive and compliant RECORDS RETENTION program for your community.

Personnel and Other Human Resource Management

An important function of local government is PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT it is often the largest percentage of the operating budget. Assistance has been provided to numerous communities in the form of policies and procedures, position descriptions, performance appraisal systems and compensation schedules; examples include Fairfield Township (Butler County), Spring Valley Township (Greene County), and Crosby Township (Hamilton County).

Other HUMAN RESOURCE management advice has been provided to agencies that require an external reviewer to perform job audits (Warren County Engineer's Office) and work distribution analysis (Benham's Grove Facility, City of Centerville).

Geographic Information Systems, Planning and Zoning, and Computer and Information Management

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS are a tool to aid local government decision-making and many computer mapping applications are becoming more user friendly. Center staff can help connect your community with the resources necessary to get started, managing data, producing output, and utilizing spatial representations.

Communities faced with PLANNING AND ZONING issues have received the following types of assistance: development of telecommunications ordinance for the City of Harrison (Hamilton County), review and update of zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans, training of board members, review of enforcement capacity, etc.

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT demands are a critical issue facing local governments. With the increased used of data, information management is a challenge. The computerization of accounting functions, service delivery, utility billing, dispatching, planning, zoning, and land and site inventories for development opportunities are common concerns. Center staff have also assisted with cemetery tracking and records management projects.

Economic and Community Development and Local Government Management and Program Evaluations

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT efforts may be provided by the Center for communities that do not have a full-time development professional or they can support existing personnel or programs. In the past, the Center has received funding from the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide project assistance to local governments who are facing either growth or decline.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM EVALUATIONS have been provided to numerous communities, departments, and agencies. Examples include coordination of an executive search, charter reviews, job audits and distribution analysis, and forecasting of future financial demands and personnel needs. The storage and management of records is a legal requirement for all local governments.

CPMRA Applied Project Activities:

Ohio Township Association (OTA)

The Center is coordinating and participating in the delivery of the OTA Leadership Academy (designed to provide elected township officials with continuing education). Center staff lead several OTALA workshop sessions at every OTA Winter Conference. CPMRA is now working with the OTA to develop and implement a Leadership Academy II (designed to provide elected township officials with continuing education beyond the scope of the original OTALA). CPMRA continues to produce the Township Trustee Sourcebook, the Township Fiscal Officer Sourcebook, and the Township Personnel Management Sourcebook, which comprise a multi-volume series on township government and management. The Township Zoning Sourcebook was published in 2009 as the fourth volume in the sourcebook series. The Ohio Township Association has designated the four-volume Township Sourcebook Series as the recommended resource publication for township officials in Ohio.

Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration

Research Monograph: “Does Collaboration Beget Collaboration?: From Cooperation to Co-production in Township Government” This CPMRA study was one of four research projects supported by a competitive grant from the Ohio Commission. Faculty and student authors included Philip Russo, Director, CPMRA and Professor of Political Science; Andrew Dudas, Senior Project Manager, CPMRA; Patrick Haney, Professor of Political Science; Mark Morris, Senior Project Manager, CPMRA; and Heath Ingram, junior Public Administration major. Bethany Bowyer, senior Public Administration major, and Deanna Watts, Political Science Graduate Assistant, provided additional assistance.

Scioto Foundation (Adams, Pike, Jackson, and Scioto Counties)

The Center developed a comprehensive online scholarship locator database for high school students and their parents in Scioto County, Ohio as part of the Foundation’s University College Access Network (UCAN) project. The Center also worked with the Foundation to assess the costs and benefits of implementing an online scholarship application system.

Partnerships

Ohio Township Association (OTA)

cooperative agreementThe CPMRA and the Ohio Township Association have worked in a partnership under a Cooperative Agreement since 1995. The Center is pleased to provide ongoing support and assistance to the Ohio Township Association. The Center and the OTA signed a cooperative agreement in 1995 and jointly publish the four volume Township Sourcebook Series. The Center is an active contributor to and participant in the Ohio Township Association's Winter Conference and in the OTA Leadership Academy. Please visit the Center's conference presentations page for more information.

Surveys

Chart featuring CPMRA Survey Response Rates from 1997 to 2022

The Center can assist local governments with survey research. These surveys are generally community needs assessment surveys that examine residents' opinions and attitudes about service delivery and life in their particular community. Some surveys focus more specifically on a particular issue affecting a community. The Center has conducted surveys for the following communities:

Please contact the Center if you would like a copy of a survey report listed above.

The Center is interested in developing online community surveys. Please contact us at cpmra@miamioh.edu if you think your community would be an interested partner.

Conferences

The CPMRA has been and continues to be an active participant in the Ohio Township Association's Winter Conference. The CPMRA typically leads a number of workshops at the Conference including the Ohio Township Association Leadership Academy courses. The Center also presents other workshops at various conferences around the state.

2020's

2022

Ohio Township Association Winter Conference Presentations: Jan 26-28, 2022

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Team Building for Good Government
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Communicating with the Media
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Leadership Skills and Styles

2021

Summer Leadership Academy: July 20, 2021

  • Building the Trust of Your Citizens (virtual presentation)

Ohio Township Association Winter Conference Presentations: 2021

  • Not held due to COVID

2020

Summer Leadership Academy: July 7-10, 2020

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Communicating and Working with the Media

Ohio Township Association Winter Conference Presentations: Feb 5-7, 2020

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Team Building for Good Government
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Intergovernmental Relations
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Technology in Local Government
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Leadership Skills and Styles
  • Things I Wish I Knew

2010's

2019

Summer Leadership Academy: July 12, 2019

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Technology in Local Government
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Conflict and Dispute Resolution
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Leadership Skills and Styles

Ohio Township Association Winter Conference Presentations: Jan 30-Feb 1, 2019

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Communicating and Working with the Media
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Intergovernmental Relations
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Effective Decision Making

2018

Summer Leadership Academy: July 13, 2018

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Technology in Local Government
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Team Building for Good Government

Ohio Township Association Winter Conference Presentations: Jan 31-Feb 2, 2018

  • Leadership Academy: Team Building
  • Basics of a Township

2017

Summer Leadership Academy: July 14, 2017

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Leadership Skills and Styles
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Intergovernmental Relations

Ohio Township Association Winter Conference Presentations: Jan 27-30, 2017

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Communicating and Working with the Media
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Technology in Local Government

2016

Summer Leadership Academy: July 15, 2016

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Technology in Local Government
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Team Building for Good Government

Ohio Township Association Winter Conference Presentations: Jan 27-30, 2016

  • Leadership Academy: General Workshop
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Leadership Skills and Styles
  • Leadership Academy Elective: Intergovernmental Affairs
  • Things I Wish I Knew

Ohio Public Leader Fellowships

The Ohio Public Leader Fellowship Program provides students with a practical, co-curricular experience that enhances their understanding of the inner-workings of state and local government institutions.  Students emerge prepared for success in the arena of public leadership while host organizations benefit from engaging with outstanding young talent.

The Ohio Public Leaders accepted into this program receive paid fellowships ($1,000-$2,500) and are selectively assigned to state or local government institutions or to related public or non-profit agencies throughout Ohio. The fellowships support special projects that are designed to meet the needs of partner agencies and the professional interests of Ohio Public Leaders.

With the support of the OPL Advisory Board, faculty, and professional mentors, our students typically complete their Ohio Public Leader fellowship during the four-week Winter Term.  Over 100 Miami University students have been awarded Ohio Public Leader Fellowships.

The Ohio Public Leader Fellowship is an initiative of the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs housed within the Department of Political Science.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  October 13, 2023

APPLICATION: The online application can be found on the OPL Fellowship Application page.

CPMRA Interns

As one of the nation's premier teaching institutions, Miami University is committed to maintaining its recognition for traditional and innovative opportunities for student learning. The Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs facilitates the University's teaching mission in two ways. First, the Center serves as a practical laboratory for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies and careers in public affairs and public leadership. Students gain valuable training as a supplement to classroom experiences by participating in the Center's Local Government Internship Program and/or as a student research associate. Students earn academic credit under the supervision of Miami faculty and the host government supervisor. To request information about creating an internship for your local government, please contact Patrick Haney, Ph.D. by calling 513-529-4321.

Shelby Dolley

Mollie Duffy

Jack Humenay

Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs

349 E. High Street
311 Harrison Hall
Oxford, OH 45056