A look at the capital projects survey results. Part three: Which projects?
How did the three projects rank?
Tonight, June 24th, the city council will give staff direction on how to move forward with a November ballot question asking the voters to raise property taxes to fund up to three capital projects. Projects under consideration are a remodel and expansion of the Bob Burger Recreation Center, an expansion and remodel of the Service Center, and a new Civic Center.
All three projects, or a combo of two, and a variety of options are on the table.
Here’s a graphic from the staff’s presentation to give you an idea.
Here’s the breakdown of what it means to the taxpayer.
This is part three of my update on the survey asking for residents’ input.
In part one, I shared demographic information and respondents’ replies to questions about the city. A look at the survey results. Part one: Your thoughts about the city
In part two, I shared how residents responded to questions about funding via sales or property taxes. A look at the capital projects survey results. Part two: funding.
Now let’s look at support for the individual projects.
Want to offer more support? Awesome!
Snark Alert.
The new City Hall is described as a "community centered…". If it were, instead, described as a new City Hall, would the answers have been different? I think the question was phrased as it was in order to get the "right" answer.
My point here, is that it is extremely important that whatever gets put on the ballot this fall be worded neutrally.
I have a background in social science surveys. This is well calculated to get the answers the city wants to hear in the first place. Why exactly do we need new structures? Also, we are not given info on items such as projected economic and population growth, what the city plans to do with the new digs as opposed to the old digs, etc. How will it affect the economy of the city, both bad and good? One of the bad is that we need a plan for city services and projections given what money we have to spend now. Another bad is that if we have expenses in the future, can we cover them? I don't have time for more, but there is more to cover here.