CMM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CMM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which financial metric is used to evaluate whether the annual debt service on a revenue bond issue can be covered by enterprise revenues? → Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR)
2. In land use planning, 'nonconforming use' refers to: → A legally established use that no longer conforms to current zoning regulations
3. When evaluating service delivery alternatives using a service shedding approach, a municipality is: → Permanently eliminating a service the government no longer provides at all
4. The Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) or equivalent state agency has primary jurisdiction over which type of complaint? → Unfair labor practice charges filed by unions or management
5. A municipal manager wants to reduce use-of-force incidents in the police department. Which evidence-based strategy has been shown to be most effective? → Procedural justice training and de-escalation programs
6. What is the purpose of a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit? → To control pollutants entering waterways through storm drains
7. Under the principle of fiscal equivalence, local government service areas should ideally: → Match the geographic boundaries of the tax base that funds the service
8. In preparing a redevelopment plan for a blighted area, which step typically comes FIRST? → Conducting a blight study and making a blight finding
9. Which of the following best describes a key competency required for intergovernmental relations in CMM practice? → Strong analytical skills combined with effective communication and ethical judgment
10. The After-Action Report (AAR) process following an emergency exercise or real incident is PRIMARILY used to: → Identify strengths and areas for improvement to enhance future preparedness
11. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program is administered at the state level by which type of agency? → State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs)
12. A city is experiencing 'housing cost burden.' By HUD's definition, this means residents are spending more than what percentage of their income on housing? → 30%
13. A municipality wants to compare its service costs and quality against similar-sized cities. This practice is best described as: → Benchmarking
14. Why is environmental sustainability important in planning? → It ensures resource protection and long-term community health
15. Which of the following is an example of a Nature-Based Solution (NbS) for flood risk management? → Restoring floodplain wetlands to absorb and slow floodwaters
16. Why is transparency important in public governance? → To allow for citizen oversight and accountability
17. What is mixed-use development? → Combining different land uses like residential and commercial
18. The concept of 'representative bureaucracy' in public administration argues that government agencies function more effectively when: → The workforce demographics reflect the diversity of the community served
19. What does a fund balance reserve for 'rainy day' purposes typically represent in municipal finance? → Unrestricted reserves to stabilize budgets during revenue shortfalls
20. A city is piloting an artificial intelligence chatbot for resident services. Which governance step is MOST important before public launch? → Conducting a bias audit and establishing human escalation pathways
21. Which term describes the practice of governments publishing datasets in machine-readable formats for public use without restrictions? → Open data
22. The concept of 'marble cake federalism' (Morton Grodzins) suggests that American intergovernmental relations are characterized by: → Intertwined and overlapping responsibilities shared across all levels of government
23. Which federal grant program has historically provided funding to local governments for broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion initiatives? → Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program
24. Which principle of emergency management ensures that response and recovery decisions are made at the lowest appropriate level of government? → Subsidiarity
25. Under the Stafford Act, what is the first step a local government must take to access federal disaster assistance? → Request a Presidential Disaster Declaration through the Governor
26. An employee who reports a supervisor's illegal activity to a state agency and is subsequently demoted may have a claim under: → Whistleblower protection statutes
27. A municipality receives a $10M federal transportation grant with a 20% local match requirement. What is the total project cost and local share? → Total $12.5M, local share $2.5M
28. Under a Design-Build project delivery method, when does the municipality's greatest opportunity exist to influence project scope and cost? → During the pre-design and design development phase
29. Which federal agency serves as the primary point of coordination for state and local governments on homeland security grants and emergency preparedness? → The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
30. Which of the following best describes the role of a Public Information Officer (PIO) during an emergency? → Serving as the single point of contact for media and public communication