Using Citizen SurveysUsing Citizen Surveys

Geoffrey D. PetersonGeoffrey D. Peterson

Director, UW-Eau ClaireDirector, UW-Eau Claire

Political Research InstitutePolitical Research Institute

The Political Research The Political Research InstituteInstitute

The UW-Eau Claire Political Research The UW-Eau Claire Political Research Institute works to enhance lines of Institute works to enhance lines of communication between the governed and communication between the governed and those who govern.those who govern.

The PRI provides non-partisan The PRI provides non-partisan consultations for local governments, non-consultations for local governments, non-profit organizations, and fellow institutions profit organizations, and fellow institutions of higher educationof higher education

Founded in 2001 by the political science Founded in 2001 by the political science department at UW-Eau Clairedepartment at UW-Eau Claire

Citizen SurveysCitizen Surveys

Designed to measure citizen opinion Designed to measure citizen opinion on important political issueson important political issues

Working through UW-Eau Claire Working through UW-Eau Claire ensures objectivity and anonymity to ensures objectivity and anonymity to respondentsrespondents

Response rates are high and draw Response rates are high and draw significant interest from the public significant interest from the public

Why Mail Surveys?Why Mail Surveys?

Mail surveys are cost effectiveMail surveys are cost effective They guarantee that all members of the They guarantee that all members of the

community have a chance to respondcommunity have a chance to respond Mail surveys give respondents a Mail surveys give respondents a

chance to consider questions at lengthchance to consider questions at length Allows for more complex question Allows for more complex question

constructionconstruction

Types Of QuestionsTypes Of Questions

Forced Choice:Forced Choice:

““To which of the following would you To which of the following would you be most opposed to cutting: be most opposed to cutting: snowplowing, park maintenance, or snowplowing, park maintenance, or road maintenance?”road maintenance?”

““In your opinion, which department in In your opinion, which department in the city provides you with the best the city provides you with the best value for your tax dollar: police, parks value for your tax dollar: police, parks and recreation, or road maintenance?”and recreation, or road maintenance?”

Open-Ended QuestionsOpen-Ended Questions

““Please give your impressions of the Please give your impressions of the city council.”city council.”

““If you had to name the most important If you had to name the most important issue facing the City in the next issue facing the City in the next decade, what would it be?”decade, what would it be?”

Issue Priority QuestionsIssue Priority Questions

““Please rank the following issues facing Please rank the following issues facing the city in order of importance from 1 the city in order of importance from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest): cutting taxes, (highest) to 5 (lowest): cutting taxes, improving city parks, long-term growth improving city parks, long-term growth planning, improving road surfaces, planning, improving road surfaces, economic development planning.”economic development planning.”

““From the following list, please choose From the following list, please choose the three issues you believe should be the three issues you believe should be the highest priorities for the city the highest priorities for the city government in the next budget cycle.”government in the next budget cycle.”

Chippewa Falls Citizen Chippewa Falls Citizen SurveySurvey

RESPONSE RATERESPONSE RATE

1,944 total responses for a response 1,944 total responses for a response rate of 31.69%rate of 31.69%

Responses were reasonably balanced Responses were reasonably balanced from most of the community, with from most of the community, with some over-representation of seniors some over-representation of seniors and homeowners.and homeowners.

Consistent with response rates with Consistent with response rates with similar surveyssimilar surveys

RESIDENCYRESIDENCY12%

10%

8%

16%

54%

0-5 Years 5-9 Years 10-15 Years15-20 Years 20+ years

PERCENTAGE TAX PERCENTAGE TAX INCREASEINCREASE

37%

20%

3% 2%

38%

Zero Pct Five Pct Ten PctFifteen Pct Twenty Pct

RAW DOLLAR TAX RAW DOLLAR TAX INCREASEINCREASE

38%18%

5%5%

34%

$0 $50 $100 $150 $200

TAX MATCHING ACCURACYTAX MATCHING ACCURACYTax Matching For All Respondents

71%

11% 18%

Raw Higher Than PercentageTax MatchPercentage Higher Than Raw

Tax Matching With 0%/$0 Removed

56%

17%27%

Raw Higher Than PercentageTax MatchPercentage Higher Than Raw

TAX MATCHING & TAX MATCHING & RESIDENCYRESIDENCY

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

0-5Years

6-10Years

11-15Years

16-20Years

20+Years

Raw Greater Than Percentage Tax MatchPercentage Greater Than Raw

TAX MATCHING BY INCOMETAX MATCHING BY INCOME

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

$0-$25k $25k-$50k

$50k-$75k

$75k-$100k

$100k+

Raw Greater Than Percentage Tax MatchPercentage Greater Than Raw

TAX MATCHING & SENIORSTAX MATCHING & SENIORS

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Raw HigherThan

Percentage

Tax Match PercentageHigher Than

Raw

SENIORS NO SENIORS

CUT SERVICES OR RAISE CUT SERVICES OR RAISE TAXES?TAXES?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Cut LibraryHours by

10%

Close CitySwimming

Pool

Close CityZoo

Delay SnowPlowing

Cut Museumof Industry

andTechnology

Increase Taxes Cut Budget

GROWTHGROWTHCreate More Growth

14%

37%30%

12%7%

Strongly Agree AgreeNeutral DisagreeStrongly Disagree

Limit Growth

5%10%

18%

40%

27%

Strongly Agree AgreeNeutral DisagreeStrongly Disagree

WASTE IN CITY GOVT?WASTE IN CITY GOVT?

29%

30%

30%

8% 3%

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

WASTE BY INCOMEWASTE BY INCOME

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

$0-$25k $25k-$50k

$50k-$75k

$75k-$100k

$100k+

Agree Neutral Disagree

What Can Surveys Do For What Can Surveys Do For You?You?

Give you a broader base of informationGive you a broader base of information Give you timely feedbackGive you timely feedback Provide you with a greater pool of opinionProvide you with a greater pool of opinion Educate the public about the issues facing Educate the public about the issues facing

your communityyour community Allow you to judge where citizen priorities Allow you to judge where citizen priorities

truly aretruly are