Sarasota County. Citizen Opinion Survey

Transcription

1 ~1 Sarasota County Citizen Opinion Survey., 1

2 Project Management a Sarasota County Communications Department Re a ch Strn t gy li\ra k ti n g Project Direction & Questionnaire Input Project Liaison to Sarasota County Data Collection, Analysis, Reporting & Presentation in Conjunction with FIOG 2

3 Purpose Support data-driven decision-making Gauge temperature of constituents Track changes over time in citizen sentiments Incorporate new or timely topics of relevance Big picture: Provide benchmarks and trending data on how citizens perceive the job Sarasota County is doing 3

4 Methodology Random telephonic survey of Sarasota County residents 800 completed interviews of residents age 18+ Conducted between June 25 to July 17, 2018 Margin of error: ±3.5% Average completion time: 9.8 minutes Representative sample based on demographics and geographic location 4

5 2018 Survey Topics Quality of Life County Engagement Sarasota in the Future County Budget 5

6 Study Additions When rating the level of trust between Sarasota County residents and the government, the option of your city government leaders was added. Rather than asking why one contacted the County, in 2018 the question asked what department or office was specifically contacted. New items that affect their quality of life in Sarasota County: road & infrastructure maintenance, traffic flow, services for aging population, and services for the homeless. New option for the single biggest thing that can contribute to the growth of Sarasota County s economy: workforce training or re-training. Awareness that rainy day general fund reserves are being spent to maintain service levels. Respondents were posed a solution to replenishing that fund (a minimal property tax increase $20 on average). Respondents unwilling to support could offer feedback as to what should happen and to provide specific examples of what could be done to create new revenue sources or to reduce service levels. 6

7 Quality of Life Content Overall Satisfaction with Quality of Life Satisfaction Trend Over Time Most Important Issues Facing the County Biggest Stress on Household Finances Important Issues for the County to Work On 7

8 Overall Quality of Life 60% 50% 40% How Would You Rate the Overall Quality of Life in Sarasota County? 52% 45% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0% - 3% Poor Fair Good Excellent 8

9 Trending Quality of Life 100% How Would You Rate the Overall Quality of Life in Sarasota County? 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 52% 45% 30% 20% 10% 0% DK/NA/Refused Poor Fair Good Excellent 3% 0% 9

10 Most Important Issue Facing County In Your Opinion, What is the Most Important Issue Facing Sarasota County Today? Population Growth/New Development Crime Traffic/Transportation Economy/Jobs Government and Elected Officials Stormwater/Drainage/Flooding Health Care Affordable Housing Public Schools Homelessness Water Taxes Diversity Government Overregulation (Environmental Standards, Zoning) Ethics of Public Officials Negative Business Climate (Permitting, Licensing) Drugs/Substance Abuse Government Contracting Senior Services Quality of our Waterways Racial Concerns Neighborhood Deterioration Energy Cost (Gas, Electric) Climate Change/Global Warming Election Hurricanes Youth Services Insurance There are No Serious Problems DK/NA/Refused Other % 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2% 5% 10% 19% 24% 10

11 Most Important Issue Facing County (cont d) Population Growth/New Population Growth/New Population Growth/New Population Growth/New Population Growth/New Development Development Development Development Development (21%) (27%) (28%) (23%) (24%) Traffic/ Transportation (12%) Homelessness (10%) Economy/Jobs (7%) Taxes (8%) Crime (10%) Public Schools (11%) Economy/Jobs (6%) Homelessness (6%) Crime (5%) Traffic/Transportation (5%) Economy/Jobs (7%) Traffic/ Transportation (6%) Traffic/ Transportation (6%) Economy/Jobs (5%) Homelessness (5%) Economy/Jobs (4%) There are No Serious Problems (16%) There are No Serious Problems (17%) There are No Serious Problems (13%) There are No Serious Problems (15%) There are No Serious Problems (19%) 11

12 Biggest Stress on Household Finances What Would You Say is Putting the Greatest Stress on Your Own Household s Finances Right Now? Household Finances Health Care Costs Home Insurance Personal Debt (Loan Repayments, Mortgage, Credit Cards, etc. Child-Rasing Costs (Day Care, Tuition, Clothes, etc.) Property Taxes Rising Rental Rates Taxes in General Gas Prices Prescription Drugs Home Foreclosure (Possibility of; Already Happened) Elder Care Costs Employment/Jobs Investment Portfolio Shrinkage Alimony; Child Support Car Payments None of the Above -- No Stresses Being Felt DK/NA Other 6% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4% 4% 3% 2% 2% --I 2% 1% 1% 0% 0% - 1% 1% 18% 36% 12

13 Biggest Stress on Household Finances (cont d) Property Taxes (8%) Gas Prices (8%) Personal Debt (loans, mortgages, etc.) (7%) Employment/Jobs (6%) Home Insurance (5%) Household Finances (11%) Household Finances (19%) Property Taxes (7%) Property Taxes Taxes in General (12%) 7%) Gas Prices (4%) Household Finances (15%) Property Taxes (10%) Household Finances (18%) Health Care Costs (6%) Home Insurance (6%) Child-Raising Costs Personal Debt Taxes in General Health Care Costs (5%) (loans, mortgages, etc.) (7%) (8%) Personal Debt (5%) (5%) Employment/Jobs Property Taxes (4%) Health Care Costs (4%) (5%) Taxes in General (7%) Rising Rental Rates (4%) Home Insurance Taxes in General (4%) (4%) No Stresses Being Felt No Stresses Being Felt No Stresses Being Felt No Stresses Being Felt No Stresses Being Felt (36%) (48%) (34%) (31%) (36%) 13

14 Important Issues for County Issues Affecting Quality of Life in Sarasota County Services for Aging Population 28% 25% 46% Availability of Good-Paying Jobs 21% 34% 45% Public Safety 26% 30% 44% Services for the Homeless 30% 29% 42% Availability of Affordable Workforce Housing Traffic Flow Effective Growth Management Policies Efficient Energy Consumption Environmental Quality Such as Air and Water Road & Infrastructure Maintenance Transportation Parks & Recreation 22% 37% 41% 22% 44% 35% 24% 47% 29% 29% 51% 20% 30% 55% 15% 27% 59% 14% 26% 63% 11% 49% 45% 5% Less Important Important Most Important Arts & Cultural Diversity 58% 38% 4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 14

15 Important Issues for County (cont d) Availability of Good-Paying Jobs (61%) Availability of Good-Paying Jobs (65%) Availability of Good-Paying Jobs (76%) Effective Growth Management Policies (54%) Services for Aging Population (46%) Public Safety (59%) Public Safety (57%) Public Safety (65%) Environmental Quality Such as Air and Water (50%) Availability of Good-Paying Jobs (45%) Environmental Quality Such as Air and Water (55%) Availability of Affordable Housing (53%) Effective Growth Management Policies (64%) Efficient Energy Consumption (46%) Public Safety (44%) Availability of Affordable Housing (47%) Environmental Quality Such as Air and Water (49%) Availability of Affordable Workforce Housing (62%) Availability of Good-Paying Jobs (45%) Services for the Homeless (42%) Efficient Energy Consumption (46%) Effective Growth Management Policies (45%) Transportation (61%) Availability of Affordable Workforce Housing (43%) Availability of Affordable Workforce Housing (41%) 15

16 Summary Infographic: Quality of Life 97% describe their overall quality of life as either excellent (45%) or good (52%) ffl Most Important Issues Facing the County: Population Growth/Development Crime Traffic Economy/Jobs Approximately 1 in 5 (19%) Do Not Believe there are Serious Problems Top Five Stressors: ~ I 1 General Household Finances Health Care Costs Home Insurance Personal Debt Child-Raising Costs 36% say No Stressors are Being Felt II Priorities for the County Expressed at Highest Levels: Services for Aging Population Availability of Good-Paying Jobs Public Safety Services for the Homeless Availability of Affordable Workforce Housing 16

17 County Engagement Content Overall Satisfaction With Services Provided by County Trust in Government to Do What is Right for Sarasota County Residents Federal State County City Past Year Contact with County Respect, Accuracy, Timeliness of County Interactions 17

18 Satisfaction with Services Provided 60% Rate Your Level of Satisfaction with Most of the Many Services Provided by Sarasota County Government Today, Excluding the School Board. 50% 47% 49% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0% 1% -3% DK/NA/Refused Very Dissatisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Somewhat Satisfied Very Satisfied 18

19 Satisfaction with Services Provided Trend 80% Rate Your Level of Satisfaction with Most of the Many Services Provided by Sarasota County Government Today, Excluding the School Board. 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 49% 47% Very Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied DK/NA/Refused 20% 10% % 0% 0% % 19

20 Trust in Government Level of Trust in Government Leaders Federal Government 1% 23% 33% 40% 2% State Government 1% 6% 42% 47% 5% Sarasota County Government 2% 3% 46% 43% 7% Your City Government* 8% 2% 43% 43% 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% *Base of residents living in a City within Sarasota County DK/NA Never Some of the Time Most of the Time Almost Always 20

21 Trust in Government Trend Trend: Trust in Sarasota County Government Leaders: % 3% 46% 43% 7% % 2% 39% 53% 6% % 4% 32% 53% 7% % 6% 40% 45% 6% % 11% 37% 39% 8% % 10% 38% 28% 4% % 9% 40% 31% 4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% DK/NA Never Some of the Time Most of the Time Almost Always 21

22 County Contact 40% 35% Over the Past Year, Have You Contacted any County Office or Official for Service or to Get Information? Base: Those who Contacted the County What Office or Department Did you Contact? Utilities (Water) Contact Center ( ) 20% 19% 30% Building Inspections 13% 25% Permitting 13% 20% 15% 14% Health Department Public Works Parks 2% 5% 10% 10% Libraries - 2% 5% Human Resources I 1% 0% Other 16% % 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 22

23 Evaluation of County Contact 100% 90% In Your Interactions With the County, Were You...? 93% 90% 89% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% DK/NA No Yes 20% 10% 0% 7% 9% 10% 0% 1% 2% Treated with Respect Given Correct Information Helped in a Timely Fashion 23

24 Evaluation of County Contact Trend 100% 90% 80% 70% Experiences in Contacting County Offices/Officials 93% 90% 89% 60% 50% 40% Treated with Respect Given Correct Information Helped in a Timely Fashion 30% 20% 10% 0%

25 Summary Infographic: Engagement Satisfaction with County Services 96% Satisfied 40% 49% Very Satisfied Trust in Sarasota County Government (Almost Always/Most of the Time/Some of the Time) 96% SC govt. 93% State 86% City 76% Federal Satisfaction with County Outreach 1 in 10 Contacted County (14%) 93% Respectful Support 90% Accurate Support 89% Timely Support i t I Almost Always 6% 7% 2018 Most of the Time 53% 43% 2018 Some of the Time 39% 46%

26 Sarasota in the Future Content Single Biggest Factor to Contribute to County s Economic Growth Single Biggest Threat to Sarasota County s Economy 26

27 Biggest Contributor to County s Economic Growth What do You Think is the Single Biggest Thing that Can Contribute to the Growth of Sarasota County s Economy? Workforce Training or Re-Training 21% Manufacturing 14% Workforce Housing 14% Ecotourism 13% Sports Tourism 9% Transportation 8% Health and Wellness 7% Commercial Development 6% Retail 4% Arts and Culture 3% Residential Construction 2% DK 1% Other -I 0% 27

28 Biggest Contributor to Growth Trend Ecotourism (15%) Manufacturing (18%) Manufacturing (23%) Workforce Training or Re-Training (21%) Arts and Culture (12%) Transportation (14%) Ecotourism (12%) Manufacturing (14%) Sports Tourism (12%) Commercial Development (12%) Health and Wellness (12%) Workforce Housing (14%) Commercial Development (11%) Health and Wellness (11%) Transportation (12%) Ecotourism (13%) Manufacturing (11%) Ecotourism (10%) Arts and Culture (10%) Sports Tourism (9%) Health and Wellness (9%) Workforce Housing (9%) Workforce Housing (10%) Transportation (8%) 28

29 Biggest Threat to County s Economic Growth What do You Think is the Single Biggest Threat to Sarasota County s Economy? Lack of Industry and Jobs 37% Traffic Congestion 18% Government Waste and Inefficiency 13% People and Industry Leaving the County 7% Property Tax Rates Deterioration of the Environment (Water, Air) - 4% 5% DK/NA - Other 4% 12% 29

30 Biggest Threat to Growth Trend Loss/Lack of Jobs/Industry Loss/Lack of Jobs/Industry Traffic Congestion Traffic Congestion Lack of Industry and Jobs (43%) (49%) (28%) (33%) (37%) Government Waste and Inefficiency (17%) Government Waste and Inefficiency (14%) Loss/Lack of Jobs/Industry (26%) Lack of Industry and Jobs (22%) Traffic Congestion (18%) Property Tax Rates (12%) Deterioration of the Environment (10%) Property Tax Rates (13%) Property Tax Rates (15%) Government Waste and Inefficiency (13%) Deterioration of the Environment (7%) Property Tax Rates (9%) People and Industry Leaving the State (7%) Government Waste and Inefficiency Government Waste and Inefficiency (9%) (11%) People and Industry Leaving the County (9%) People and Industry Leaving the County (7%) Other growth & in-migration, lack of housing (6%) People and Industry Leaving the State (8%) People and Industry Leaving the County (8%) Deterioration of the Environment (7%) Property Tax Rates (5%) 30

31 Summary Infographic: Sarasota in the Future 7 in 10 (71%) Consider Top Contributors for Growth of SC Economy to be one of following: -- e) Workforce Training/Retraining )G Oo ~- I Manufacturing Workforce Housing 8 in 10 (80%) Consider Top Threats to SC Economy to be one of following: Lack of Industry/Jobs Traffic Congestion Government Waste/Inefficiency Ecotourism ~ ~ Sports Tourism $ People and Industry Leaving County Property Tax Rates 31

32 Sarasota County Budget Content Spending Priorities Reprioritization Perceptions General Fund Awareness Property Tax Proposal General Fund Replenishment Recommendations 32

33 Spending Priorities Which View Comes Closest to Your Own Regarding the Spending Priorities of Sarasota County Government? Base: Reprioritize Respondents Is the Problem that the County Spends too Much on Certain Things or Doesn t Spend Enough on Certain Things or Both? 19% 15% 20% 33% 47% Believe Spending Priorities are About Right Believe County Needs to Reprioritize its Budget DK/NA 5% 61% Spends Too Much on Certain Things Doesn't Spend Enough on Certain Things DK/NA Both 33

34 Spending Priorities Trend Which View Comes Closest to Your Own Regarding the Spending Priorities of Sarasota County Government? 60% 50% 40% 30% 47% 33% Believe Spending Priorities are About Right Believe County Needs to Reprioritize its Budget 20% 20% DK/NA 10% 0%

35 Spending Priorities Trend (cont d) 80% Base: Those who Said the County Needs to Reprioritize its Budget Is the Problem That the County Spends Too Much on Certain Things or Doesn t Spend Enough on Certain Things or Both? 70% 60% 61% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 19% 15% 5% Spends Too Much on Certain Things Doesn't Spend Enough on Certain Things Both DK/NA 35

36 General Fund Awareness Are You Aware That the County has Been Spending its Rainy Day" General Fund Reserves in Order to Maintain Service Levels? 35% Yes No 65% 36

37 General Fund Replenishment To Begin Replenishing General Fund Reserves and Maintain Service at Current Level Would you be Willing to Pay a Minimal Property Tax Increase of Approximately $20 to the Average Homeowner? Base: Unsupportive of Tax Increase Which Would You Like to See the County Enact? Introduce New Revenue Sources 35% 10% Reduced Service Levels 30% 20% Yes No Both 24% DK/NA/Refused 70% DK/NA/Refused 11% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 37

38 Resource Allocation to Services that Affect County Budget Expenditures that Affect the County Budget Health Care 27% 37% 37% Public Safety Economic Development Homelessness Existing Infrastructure Beaches Public Transportation/Traffic Congestion Water and Drainage Road Resurfacing Parks and Preserves 26% 38% 36% 20% 48% 32% 30% 47% 23% 27% 53% 20% 51% 30% 19% 28% 57% 16% 30% 58% 12% 28% 63% 9% 55% 38% 6% Less Important Important Most Important Libraries 60% 36% 5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 38

39 Resource Allocation to Services that Affect County Budget Homelessness (63%) Health Care (71%) Public Transportation/ Traffic Congestion (54%) Health Care (37%) Health Care (54%) Public Transportation/ Traffic Congestion (69%) Health Care (47%) Public Safety (36%) Public Safety Public Safety Economic Development Economic Development (47%) (61%) (43%) (32%) Public Transportation/ Traffic Congestion (45%) Homelessness (58%) Existing Infrastructure (36%) Homelessness (23%) Economic Development Economic Development Public Safety Existing Infrastructure (44%) (52%) (36%) (20%) 39

40 Summary Infographic: Budget Spending t 61% Not Spending Enough Rainy Day Fund Reported Being Aware County Spending 35% Reserves to Maintain Service Levels 33% 47% 20% Spending Needs to be Prioritized DK Spending About Right J 15% Spending Too Much 11 19% Combination of Both 5%? Don t Know Replenishing the General Fund V X 70% Support a Minimal Property Tax Increase to Replenish Funds Those Unsupportive: $ 35% Introduce New Revenue Sources +? 30% Reduce Service Levels 24% Both 11% DK 40

41 Summary Infographic: Budget (cont d) Responses condensed into three categories: Resource Allocation of Services that Affect County Budget The top three resources ranked as Most Important for the County to be reprioritizing in the budget (10 on a 10-point scale) are: 1 Most Important 2 Important 3 Less Important 37% % 32% Health Care Public Safety Economic Development Important combines those that received a 7, 8, or 9 on a 10-point scale; those of highest importance are: 63% 58% 57% Road Resurfacing Water and Drainage Public Transportation/Traffic Congestion If an item is Less Important on a 10-point scale, the responses were 1 6 or don t know. The least important services are: 55% 60% 51% Libraries Parks and Preserves Beaches 41

42 Citizen Opinion Survey Summary Quality of life satisfaction held at strong levels Satisfaction with county services held at strong levels with growth in very satisfied An increasing share view no serious problems in the County An increasing share feel no stresses on their household s finances There were year-over decreases in trust in Federal, State and County government Priority placed on jobs remains high 42

43 Citizen Opinion Survey Summary Respondents hinge economic growth of the County on getting resident proper job training/retraining more than any other topic Job loss was indicated as the biggest threat to the County s economy Respondents less concerned with property tax and show majority support for minimal increase to replenish reserves Decrease in sentiment that County budget spending priorities are about right Most important areas for budget reallocations were health care, public safety and economic development 43