Ann Arbor Times

University of Michigan researcher Stephanie Leiser and her colleagues have conducted a study focusing on how city managers in small- to medium-sized cities across the United States are responding to long-term population decline. The study, published in the Journal of Urban Affairs, examines these cities' strategies compared to those of larger cities like Detroit and Cleveland, which have been more extensively studied.

The research involved interviews with city managers from 21 smaller communities, primarily located in the Great Lakes region. It aimed to understand how these cities are managing challenges such as shrinking populations and the closure of local industries. According to the study, a key strategy for mitigating economic decline involves leveraging existing local assets and community-specific knowledge.

Stephanie Leiser, a lecturer at the Ford School of Public Policy and leader of the Michigan Local Government Fiscal Health Project, co-authored the study with Daniel Hummel from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and James Bourey, executive director of the Seattle Architecture Foundation. Leiser emphasized that city managers often share a pragmatic mindset: "The biggest commonality was just a pragmatic and flexible mindset, and the sense of professionalism managers bring to their jobs."

One notable example from their interviews is Bryan Heck, city manager of Springfield, Ohio. His approach impressed Leiser due to his clear understanding of his city's challenges without sugarcoating them: “It’s easy to come with problems. It’s difficult to challenge yourself with developing solutions.” Springfield gained national attention during the 2024 presidential campaign for its handling of an influx of Haitian immigrants.

Leiser also reflected on how this research impacts public policy training: "Honestly, doing this study inspired me more on the teaching side because it reminded me why public service training we provide at the Ford School—to future city managers and other public servants—is so important." She highlighted that despite challenges like polarization and misinformation, many people still trust local governments.

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