Presentation of Findings g By ETC Institute January 21, 2009 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Presentation of Findings g By ETC Institute January 21, 2009 Purpose Methodology Methodology Conclusions Findings How funding for major county services should change H f di f j i h ld h Importance of funding
Presentation of Findings g By ETC Institute January 21, 2009
Purpose Methodology Methodology Conclusions Findings
H f di f j i h ld h
could be included in a future sales tax
Willingness to support a sales tax
p pp
Recommendations Questions
To determine whether the County should
continue to pursue plans to present voters with a proposal for a ¼ cent sales tax for public safety and infrastructure public safety and infrastructure
To determine the types of projects and To determine the types of projects and
services that should be funded
To determine the preferred type of tax
A total of total of 20 20 residen residents participated in two s participated in two focus groups focus groups
18 18
Participants ts were selected by were selected by the Mayor and County commiss the Mayor and County commissioners ners
governmental issues than the “average” resident
The overall composition of the meeting the meetings reflected the divers reflected the diverse e demographics demographics of
the County
demographics demographics of
the County County
The
The County County shoul should mo move forwa forward d with pl with plans s to to present present voters voters with with a ¼ a ¼ cent sales tax for cent sales tax for pu public safety and infrastructure blic safety and infrastructure
The tax shoul
The tax should incl include fundi e funding for for g
p y
To the exten
To the extent possibl possible, infrastructu infrastructure improv re improvem emen ents shoul ts should be completed be completed in a coordinated in a coordinated manner that will help enhance manner that will help enhance h l h ll / h i f i hb h d the overa e overall ll appearance appearance/aest aesthet etics cs o
neighb hbor
s
County should pursue a
County should pursue a “dedicated” sales tax for “dedicated” sales tax for 10-20 years 10-20 years
Police:
Police: “W h h d hi h i h h i d f l
time.”
ti t l ” grow proportionately.”
narcotics.” “W d SRO t th h l ”
Fire:
Fire:
The equipment and facilities are wearing out and it is a risk to the firemen.”
We must keep up with additional growth in the County.
Street and Road
Street and Road Maintenance Maintenance
about this part of town (State Avenue).”
mowed and there is too much trash ” mowed and there is too much trash.
Stormwater Management/Flood Prevention:
Stormwater Management/Flood Prevention:
bl ” management problems.”
plate to update infrastructure, so we need to step up.”
Sewer improvements:
Sewer improvements:
19 19 of
20 participants participants picked picked 19 19 of
20 participants participants picked picked
these items as items as one
top 3 choices
Those Those who who were “somewhat willing” said: were “somewhat willing” said: “I d t k h th l t ld k t th
“I need to know how the sales tax would make us compare to other
areas in the Metro so that shoppers will not be dissuaded from shopping here because of a higher sales tax.”
“I need some assurances of accountability; how can we be sure they
will actually do these projects.”
“I need more information about the actual cost and specific projects
that will be funded. I want to know that they are really needed and that we have tried other options.” Those Those who who were “not were “not willing” said; willing” said;
“My community (northeast) has gotten nothing for all these years, I
d bt it i i t h ” doubt it is going to change.”
“Senior citizens on social security can’t afford more taxes; taxes are
already too high.”
“I have trust issues with the UG ”
Preferred Type:
Preferred Type: Dedicated Dedicated
accountability
t d di t d l t ld t t support a dedicated sales tax would not support a general purpose sales tax
were also willing to support a dedicated tax
Preferred Length:
Preferred Length: at least 10 at least 10 years years
would support a tax that lasted at least 10 years, assuming:
There were assurances that the tax would be used for the projects promised
time frame because it would hold the County y accountable
They felt the tax would be renewed if the County did a good job implementing the tax and they were not sure that they would support a tax that lasted more than 10 years pp y
enough time
But all of these people would still support the 10-year tax
State Sales Tax:
State Sales Tax:
O l 3 i i i di d h 1% l
tax would make them less supportive of the proposed County sales tax M f h i i did hi k h d
state sales tax would affect their level of support
l b f h S l b f sales tax before the State sales tax just to be safe
Cigarette Tax:
Cigarette Tax:
None of the participants thought the proposed 55 cent per pack tax on cigarettes would make the less supportive of the County sales tax
“Have there been other considerations for funding? Have we done
“Make sure that the sales tax goes to the issues as promised.
Accountability is very very important.”
“Police and Fire need to be the main focus. I know we have other
needs but we need to be sure the community is safe ” needs, but we need to be sure the community is safe.”
“I appreciate this kind of a process and respect my fellow
participants.”
“I hope and pray that the UG listens to what the citizens have said
and especially these focus groups.”
“My bills are going up so I just can’t support any more tax increases.
Tax increases are really hard on seniors.”
“With all the new things that are coming to this area, we should
support tax for the betterment of our community.”
“We need to sell this to the people. Everything else has been tried.”
The County
The County should move forward with plans to should move forward with plans to present voters with a ¼ present voters with a ¼ cent sales tax for public cent sales tax for public safety and infrastructure safety and infrastructure
The tax should include funding for
The tax should include funding for
To
To the the extent xtent possible
nfrastructure
To
To the the extent extent possible possible, , infrastruc infrastructure ture improv improvements should be completed in a ements should be completed in a coordinated manner that will help enhanc coordinated manner that will help enhance the e the ll ll h f hb hb h d
ll appearance/aest appearance/aesthetics o etics of neig neighb hbor
s
County
County should pursue a “dedicated” sales tax for should pursue a “dedicated” sales tax for 10 10-20 20 years years 10 10 20 20 years years
County
County should not rely solely on the results of should not rely solely on the results of these these focus
groups to to predict predict the he likely likely outcome utcome of
these these focus focus groups groups to to predict predict the the likely likely outcome
the sales tax the sales tax
Focu Focus Groups Groups are not are not a a scienti scientific sampl sampling g of the voti
ng population ulation p p p p
County
County will need to do will need to do a good job educating a good job educating the the public about the need for public about the need for the sales tax the sales tax
The The County
ill need to expl xplain that that other
ave The The County County wil will need need to to expl explai ain that that other
have already been tried already been tried
County
County will will need to address issues about how the need to address issues about how the sales sales tax ax will will affect affect the the County
sales sales tax tax will will affect affect the the County County s competitiveness competitiveness with other communities with other communities
Will Will the highe the higher sales tax hurt local sales tax hurt local busi business? ss?
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