Quality of Life and Financial Planning in The City of Red Deer Research Findings September 2010
Š 2009 Ipsos Reid Privileged and confidential
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Project Overview
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Methodology
Telephone survey conducted August 24th to 31st, 2010.
Random sample of 300 Red Deer residents aged 18 years or older.
Margin of error: Âą5.7%, 19 times out of 20.
Overall results are weighted to ensure the age/gender distribution reflects that of the actual Red Deer population according to the 2006 Census data.
Where comparable, this year’s results have been tracked and reported against similar surveys conducted by the City of Red Deer in previous years (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010). Tracking allows the City to understand how citizens’ attitudes and priorities are
changing, identify new or emerging issues facing Red Deer, and assess the progress the City is making in addressing key issues.
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Research Results
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Quality of Life and Services
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Virtually all citizens rate the quality of life in Red Deer as good; on par with previous years. Q2. How would you rate the overall quality of life in the City of Red Deer today?
49% 44%
Very Good
38%
Good: 2010: 99%
46% 49% 50% 51%
Good
57% 50% 48%
Poor
Very Poor
1% 4% 5% 3% 2% 0% 1% 1% 2% 0%
2009: 94% 2008: 95% 2007: 96% 2006: 97%
Poor: 2010: 1% 2009: 6% 2008:5% 2007: 4% 2006: 2%
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
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Good amenities & services, location, and community aesthetics are top reasons for positive quality of life ratings. Q3. Why do you say the overall quality of life in the City of Red Deer today is good? *multiple responses allowed
Unaided
20%
Good amenities and services
9% 8% 7% 6% 6%
Convenient location/ accessible to everything Beautiful municipality/ beautiful setting Good economy Size of municipality (right size) Low crime rate/ safe Has everything you need Family oriented Clean municipality Good parks/ green space Spent whole life here Nice place/community Enjoy living here/ happy/ never had any problems Comfort/ feel comfortable Good standard of living/ Affordable
5% 5% 4% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2%
Enjoy living here/ happy/ never had any problems
18%
Good amenities and services
11%
Nice place/ community
8%
Low crime rate/ safe
6%
Clean municipality
6%
Has everything you need
5%
2%
All negative mentions
9% 9%
Other (DK/NS)
2009 Top Mentions
3%
*Responses 2% and lower included in �Other�
Base: Respondents who rated overall quality of life very good/good (n=296)
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Top reasons for rating quality of life as poor. (Verbatims) Q4. Why do you say the overall quality of life in the City of Red Deer today is poor? Unaided
Because there is alot of homelessness and alot of people with no money. The cost of living is getting to high and the people cant afford to live individually with no family support. High cost of living Too much traffic
Base: Respondents who Rated overall quality of life is very poor/poor (n=4**) **Extremely small base size, interpret with caution.
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Crime continues to top the public issue agenda; most other issues are on par with last year. 1. In your view, as a resident of the City of Red Deer, what is the most important issue facing your community, that is the one issue you feel should receive the greatest attention from your local leaders? Are there any other important local issues? *multiple responses allowed
Unaided
29%
22%
Crime (NET)
15%
11%
Social (NET)
11%
6%
Transportation (NET)
10%
8%
Taxation/Municipal Government Spending (NET)
7%
6%
Education (NET)
6%
Growth (NET) 4% 4%
5%
Healthcare (NET) Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Facilities or Programs (NET)
3
3%
Environment (NET) 2
3%
Revitalization (NET) 1
*Please note: A “NET” is a combination of 2 or more mentions that cover a specific theme.
None/ nothing Don't know
2 2
3%
Economy (NET) Other (NET)
4% 3%
Municipal Government Services (NET) 4
Top Mentions 2009
2008
2007
2006
Crime (net)
25%
24%
15%
25%
Transportation (net)
14%
16%
19%
9%
Social (net)
12%
20%
31%
27%
Taxation/Municipal Government Spending (net)
11%
9%
11%
9%
Municipal Government Services (net)
8%
14%
6%
6%
Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Facilities or Programs (net)
6%
2%
5%
5%
Education (net)
4%
7%
7%
10%
Growth (net)
4%
8%
9%
12%
Healthcare (net)
3%
7%
3%
5%
Economy (net)
3%
4%
2%
1%
Revitalization (net)
1%
1%
1%
1%
Environment (net)
2%
5%
3%
2%
8%
5% 5%
18%
7% Base: All Respondents (n=300)
First Mention
Second Mention
*Responses 2% and lower included in ”Other” 9
Overall satisfaction with City services sees a slight increase over 2009; Police Services maintain results. 5. Please tell me how satisfied you are with each of the following services provided by the City of Red Deer?
The Theoverall overalllevel leveland andquality qualityof ofservices servicesprovided providedby bythe theCity Cityof ofRed RedDeer Deer 48%
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
48%
39%
96%
52%
28%
91%
63%
39%
91% 54%
43%
93%
55%
98%
Police PoliceServices Services 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
45%
42%
43%
41%
35%
47%
38%
45%
36%
49%
Very satisfied
87% 84% 82% 83% 85%
Somewhat satisfied
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
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Communications and Traffic management also maintain results. 5. Please tell me how satisfied you are with each of the following services provided by the City of Red Deer?
Communication Communicationwith withResidents Residents 54%
28%
2010 2009
50%
31%
2008
82%
52%
28%
80%
54%
32%
2006
81%
47%
35%
2007
82%
86%
Traffic TrafficManagement Management 2010 2009
25%
17%
2007
16% 24%
75%
48%
23%
2008
2006
50%
71%
52% 48%
69% 65%
45% Very satisfied
69% Somewhat satisfied
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
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Financial Planning
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A majority of residents say they receive good value for their tax dollars; on par statistically with 2009. q6. Thinking about all the programs and services you receive from the City of Red Deer, would you say that overall you get good value or poor value for your tax dollars? Is that very or fairly?
26% 24% 19% 26% 27%
Very Good Value
62% 59% 61% 56% 64%
Fairly Good Value
10% 12% 14% 12%
Fairly Poor Value 5%
7%
Very Poor Value
3% 5% 5% 4%
2009: 83% 2008: 80% 2007: 81% 2006: 91%
Poor Value: 2010: 11% 2009: 15% 2008:19% 2007: 17% 2006: 8%
10%
Don’t know
Good Value: 2010: 88%
2% 1% 2% 1%
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
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There is an stronger level of support for tax increases in 2010 compared to results from last year. q7. Municipal property taxes are the primary way to pay for services provided by the City. Due to the increased cost of maintaining current service levels and infrastructure, the City of Red Deer must balance taxation and service delivery levels. To deal with this situation, which of the following four options would you most like the City of Red Deer to pursue?
Increase taxes - to expand services
15%
21%
Increase Taxes: 2010: 50%
24%
16%
27%
Increase taxes - to maintain services at current levels
30%
24% 24%
33% 32%
2009: 39% 2008: 48% 2007: 49% 2006: 59%
27%
Cut services - to maintain current tax level 20% 12%
Cut services - to reduce taxes
9% 8% 9%
None
3%
5% 5% 5%
30%
Cut Services: 2010: 39% 2009: 46% 2008: 33% 2007: 39% 2006: 29%
11% 14%
10%
Don’t Know
16%
14%
7% 2%
25% 25%
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
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Roads and Infrastructure, Policing, and Recreation are all top services residents would support enhancements to as a result of increasing taxes. Q7b. You mentioned that you would support an increase in taxes to enhance or expand services. What service(s), specifically, would you like to see enhanced? *multiple responses allowed Unaided
47%
Roads and Infrastructure 37%
Police Recreation
23%
Transit/ transportation
14%
Healthcare
2009 Top Mentions
11%
Senior housing/ services
6%
Recreation
24%
Police
24%
Educational
4%
Roads & Infrastructure
20%
Aimed at homelessness/ poverty
4%
Educational
14%
Aimed at homelessness/ poverty
9%
Cultural facilities/events/programs
7%
Parks/ green space
2%
Snow removal
1%
Cultural facilities/Events/Programs
1%
Other None Don't know
21% 4% 3%
Base: Support tax increase to enhance or expand services (n=50)
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Just over half of those who would support cutting services are unable to provide clear direction to the City. Q7c. You mentioned that you would be in favour of cutting services to either maintain the current tax level or to reduce taxes. What service(s) would you like to see reduced? *multiple responses allowed Unaided
Roads and Infrastructure
11%
Recreation
11% 8%
City worker/ politician salaries/ overtime
7%
Cultural facilities/Events/Programs Recycling/ waste disposal
5%
Transit/ transportation
5%
All areas/ departments Police Parks/ green space
39%
Cutting Services
4% 2009 Top Mentions
4% 3%
Recreation
24%
Police
24%
Roads & Infrastructure
20%
Museums
2%
Reduce/ eliminate taxes
2%
Educational
14%
Do not like seeing tax dollars wasted
2%
Aimed at homelessness/ poverty
9%
Cultural facilities/events/programs
7%
Other None (DK/NS)
13% 15% 31%
Base: Respondents who would support cutting services (n=112)
*Responses 1% and lower included in �Other� 16
Residents are most likely to support corporate sponsorship; support for pay parking, increased/new user fees and gambling revenues decrease in 2010. 8. In addition to adjusting the property tax/service delivery balance, the City of Red Deer has the option to generate other forms of revenue. Please tell me whether you would support or oppose using each of the following to pay for municipal services and programs.
Corporate Corporatesponsorship sponsorship for formunicipal municipalprograms programs&&facilities facilities
2009 2008
38%
48% 40%
41%
2007 2006
45%
43%
2010
44%
44%
44%
41%
88% 85% 81% 88% 85%
Gambling Gamblingrevenue revenuefrom fromcasinos casinosor orslot slotmachines machines
2010
34%
2009
31%
2008
32%
2007 2006
30% 35%
17% 25%
51% 57%
28% 24% 24% Strongly Support
60% 55% 58% Somewhat Support
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
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Residents are most likely to support corporate sponsorship; support for pay parking, increased/new user fees and gambling revenues decrease in 2010. 8. In addition to adjusting the property tax/service delivery balance, the City of Red Deer has the option to generate other forms of revenue. Please tell me whether you would support or oppose using each of the following to pay for municipal services and programs.
Expanded Expandedor orincreased increasedpay payparking parking
2010
17%
2009
20%
2008
21%
2007
22%
2006
16%
34%
51%
34%
54%
38%
59%
40%
61%
39%
56%
Increased Increasedor ornew newuser userfees feeson onprograms programs&&services services
2010
13%
2009
13%
2008
11%
2007
15%
2006
15%
36%
48%
41%
53%
41%
52%
36%
51% 49%
Strongly Support
64% Somewhat Support
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
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Additional information related to finances, City taxes and Municipal planning top resident needs. Q9. Thinking about your information needs, what kinds of information do you want the City of Red Deer to provide you with? Any others? Unaided *multiple responses allowed
16%
Financial/budget
13%
Tax information
12%
Municipal planning
7%
Community events Services/ programs available Crime/policing/safety
Top Mentions
5% 5%
Municipal website
4%
Parks, recreation, culture
4%
Transportation/roads/traffic
3%
Things for children/ teens/ families
3%
Transparent/ honest/ accountable information Other mentions
3%
2009
2008
2007
2006
Financial/budget
12%
5%
6%
8%
Upcoming events
5%
3%
3%
4%
City services
N/A
6%
13%
N/A
Transportation/roads/traffic
4%
3%
3%
4%
City planning
4%
3%
7%
4%
Changes in the community/ updates
4%
3%
3%
N/A
Tax information
N/A
8%
16%
11%
Transparent/honest/accountable information
4%
7%
2%
4%
Doing a good job/continue to do what they are doing
N/A
3%
5%
N/A
17%
None/ nothing (DK/NS)
30% 9% Base: All Respondents (n=300)
*Responses 2% and lower included in �Other� 19
Six-in-ten residents have been to the City’s website in the past 12 months; a steady increase since 2006. q10. Have you been to the City of Red Deer’s website in the last twelve months?
60% 59%
Yes
51% 51% 48%
40% 41%
No
49% 49% 52%
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
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Contact: Jamie Duncan Associate Vice President 403.294.7385 jamie.duncan@ipsos.com
Š 2009 Ipsos Reid Privileged and confidential
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Demographics
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Demographics Age
Gender
18 to 34 years old 35 to 54 years old 55 years and above
Male 47%
Mean
Tenure in Red Deer 37% 39% 24% 44
Female 53%
Property Taxes Yes No Don’t know
Income
Less than 1 year 1 – 5 years 6 – 10 years 11 – 20 years 21 – 50 years 51+ years Don’t know
1% 28% 20% 17% 30% 2% 1%
91% 8% 1% Own or Rent
Less than $20,000 $20,000 to just under $40,000 $40,000 to just under $60,000 $60,000 to just under $80,000 $80,000 to just under $100,000 $100,000 or more Prefer to answer
5% 16%
Children under 18 in HH Yes 43%
Own 72%
19% 19% No 57%
12% 21% 7%
HH Size greater than 2 (n=344)
Base: All Respondents (n=300)
Don't Know 20% Rent 27%
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