Fairmount Fire Protection District 2014 Mail Survey Results

Transcription

1 August 2014 Fairmount Fire Protection District 2014 Mail Survey Results Public Finance Headquarters 1400 Wewatta St., Suite Denver, CO (800)

2 Mail Survey Overview Mailed to approximately 4,171 active voter households in July 2014 Results based on 345 households responding to survey (9.4% participation) t a scientific poll t a predictor of a ballot issue s likely success or failure Provides general undertone of electorate 2

3 Executive Summary Strong support based on the responses for a mill levy increase. A majority of those who responded have been in the community for 20+ years. Most voted in the May election. Some information has been received. Lots of support for the District. 3

4 (Q1) Grading The District Q1. In thinking about your overall opinion of the Fairmount Fire Protection District, what grade would you give the fire district? (Please circle only one.) A B C D F Don t Know/ Opinion Q1. What grade would you give the District? Don't Know/ Opinion 18% D 0% C 4% F 0% Response 3% B 20% A 55% 4

5 (Q2) Demographics of Voters Q2. How long have you lived in the District? (Please check only one.) Less than 3 years 3 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 20 years more than 20 years Response 2% Q2. Length of Residency Less than 3 Years 7% 3 to 5 Years 10% More than 20 Years 37% 6 to 10 Years 18% 11 to 20 Years 26% 5

6 (Q3) Voter Participation Q3. Did you participate in the May 2014 Election? (Please check only one.) Yes Q3. Did you participate in the May 2014 Election? Response Yes 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 6

7 (Q4) Information on Mill Levy Q4. Before receiving the enclosed information, how much would you say you have read or heard about Fairmount Fire Protection District s proposed mill levy? (Please check only one.) A Lot Some A Little thing at All Don t Know/ Opinion Q4. Mill Levy Proposal Response Don't Know/ Opinion thing At All A Little Some A Lot 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 7

8 (Q5 Q9) of Service Q5. What priority should be given to adding a few paid employees to complement our unpaid volunteer force,enhance services and reduce response times? 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% High Q5. for adding paid employees High Medium Prioirty Low t a Don't Know/ Opinion Q7. for fire-fighting equipment Medium Prioirty Low t a Don't Know/ Opinion Response Response Q6. What priority should be given to maintaining prompt response times to emergencies in our community? 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% High Q6. for prompt response times Medium Prioirty Low t a Don't Know/ Opinion Response Q7. What priority should be given to providing adequate fire-fighting equipment to better protect firefighters and adequate resources for unpaid volunteers within the District? 8

9 (Q5 Q9) of Service Q8. What priority should be given to maintaining our wildland firefighting and hazardous materials response teams? Q9. What priority should be given to maintaining the current level of fire and emergency medical services, with a goal of eventually providing advanced life support care on initial arriving fire units? Q8. for wildland and hazardous materials teams Q9. for current level of services 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% A Lot Some A Little thing At All Don't Know/ Opinion Response 0% High Medium Prioirty Low t a Don't Know/ Opinion Response 9

10 (Q10) Mill Levy Increase Q10. Mill Levy. If a local election were held today, would you vote yes in favor of, or no to oppose, a 4.0 mill increase to reestablish appropriate funding to budgets, establish an upto-date pay schedule for both firefighters and civilian support staff, enhance volunteer programs, begin to fund selected long-term capital needs, and establish resiliency for the long-term future economic change, with an estimated tax impact of $2.63 per month per $100,000 of a home s valuation? (Please check only one.) Definitely Yes Probably Yes Probably Definitely Don t Know 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Don't Know/ Opinion, 3% Definitely, 12% Probably, 7% Q10. Mill Levy - Yes in favor or to oppose Probably Yes, 24% Definitely Yes, 52% Response, 3% Support by length of Residency Definitely Yes Less Than 20 Years Probably Yes Probably More than 20 Years Definitely Don't Know Response 10

11 Tax Impact to Residents Tough times to raise taxes. Fixed income. Will cost some homes/businesses more. Cost for retired persons. (Q11) Voter Issues/Concerns Total Term of Mill Levy Will this continue to go up each year? How long will the mill levy be in place? Expenditure of Funds Assurance that the funds will be spent as requested. Why is this necessary? Managing current expenditures with the given budget. Miscellaneous Property values are already going up. The District will receive additional funds. Government waste. Correlation of increased funding to services. Don t come back again in 2 years. Make sure enough for the foreseeable future. 11

12 (Q12) Additional Information Requested Q12. Before proceeding with the election, what additional information would you like, if any? 1. More Details How long will these tax increases last? Breakdown of District calls over the years. A break down of spending over the past several years. How will services be improved? What is the impact on small businesses? Are there any new developments in the District? How does the District compare to surrounding District s? How many are paid employees currently? More information on the EMT services the District provides. Why is equipment not adequate? How many hires? What funding alternatives have been explored? Current ISO ratings 2. Transparency Definitive answers on who will approve and oversee. Open records requests. Detailed Breakdown of how funds will be spent. 12

13 May Ballot Question SHALL THE FAIRMOUNT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ("FIRE DISTRICT") TAXES BE INCREASED $1,089,650 IN TAX YEAR 2014 FOR COLLECTION IN 2015, AND BY SUCH AMOUNT AS MAY BE RAISED ANNUALLY IN EACH YEAR THEREAFTER BY THE IMPOSITION OF AN ADDITIONAL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX RATE OF UP TO 4.0 MILLS, RESULTING IN A TOTAL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX RATE, EXCLUSIVE OF REFUNDS, ABATEMENTS OR DEBT SERVICE, NOT TO EXCEED MILLS, TO PAY GENERAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES OF THE DISTRICT INCLUDING REPLACING AGING FIRE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING BUILDINGS, AND PERSONNEL COSTS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE WITH THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE, AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN, AND SPEND THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY SPENDING, REVENUE RAISING, OR OTHER LIMITATION CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW, AND AS A VOTER APPROVED INCREASED MILL LEVY UNDER C.R.S (2)(b), AND WITHOUT LIMITING IN ANY YEAR THE AMOUNT OF OTHER REVENUES THAT MAY BE COLLECTED AND SPENT BY THE FIRE DISTRICT? 13

14 Proposed vember Ballot Question SHALL THE FAIRMOUNT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ("FIRE DISTRICT") TAXES BE INCREASED $1,089,650 IN TAX YEAR 2014 FOR COLLECTION IN 2015, AND BY SUCH AMOUNT AS MAY BE RAISED ANNUALLY IN EACH YEAR THEREAFTER BY THE IMPOSITION OF AN ADDITIONAL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX RATE OF UP TO 4.0 MILLS, RESULTING IN A TOTAL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX RATE, EXCLUSIVE OF REFUNDS, ABATEMENTS OR DEBT SERVICE, NOT TO EXCEED MILLS, WITH NO INCREASE BEYOND THE TOTAL LEVY WITHOUT ADDITIONAL VOTER APPROVAL, TO PAY GENERAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES OF THE DISTRICT INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: MAINTAINING RESPONSE TIMES REPLACING AGING FIRE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING EXISTING BUILDINGS, PERSONNEL COSTS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE WITH THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND SHALL THE DISTRICT BE AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT, RETAIN, AND SPEND THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY SPENDING, REVENUE RAISING, OR OTHER LIMITATION CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER LAW, AND AS A VOTER APPROVED INCREASED MILL LEVY UNDER C.R.S (2)(b), AND WITHOUT LIMITING IN ANY YEAR THE AMOUNT OF OTHER REVENUES THAT MAY BE COLLECTED AND SPENT BY THE FIRE DISTRICT? 14