Transcript Public Opinion and Issues in Anne Arundel County: A Leadership Anne Arundel Presentation May 12, 2006 by Dan Nataf, Ph.D Director, Center for the Study of.

Public Opinion and Issues in
Anne Arundel County:
A Leadership Anne Arundel Presentation
May 12, 2006
by
Dan Nataf, Ph.D
Director, Center for the Study of Local Issues
Anne Arundel Community College
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012
(410) 777-2733
(410) 777-4733 fax
[email protected]
www2.aacc.edu/csli
1
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
The Center for the Study of Local Issues: Overview
•
CSLI conducts public interest and private surveys each
semester (since 1978)
•
Respondents randomly chosen from universe of listed
telephone numbers combined with computer generated
numbers
•
Typical sample size: 300-525 respondents; students used
as interviewers – Spring, 2006 – 401 respondents
•
Each survey includes demographic and attitude/behavior
questions, including such themes as:
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
Growth/Development
Transportation
Economic conditions
Education
Tax and spending preferences
Policy preferences
Visit CSLI’s web site for previous surveys
(www2.aacc.edu/csli)
2
LAA
Presentation:
May 12, 2006
The Center
for the Study
of Local
Issues:
Web Site
- Homepage
3
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Most Important Issues Facing AA County Residents –
1995-2006 - Trends for Major Issue Areas
Most Important Issue - Trends
40
Growth/Transp36%
35 Crime 31%
31
31
31
30
30
28
28
27
26
26
26
26
25
25
25
24
22
21
20
20
19
19
18 18
18
Education
15
15
15
13
13
12
12
10
10
9
9 8
7 6
5
Crime
‘9
Sp 8
‘9
9
Fa
'9
9
Sp
‘0
0
Fa
‘0
Sp 0
‘0
1
Fa
'0
1
Sp
'0
2
Fa
'0
Sp 2
'0
3
Fa
'0
3
Sp
'0
4
Fa
'0
4
Sp
'0
5
Fa
'0
5
Sp
'0
5
‘9
8
Fa
‘9
7
Sp
Fa
‘9
7
‘9
6
Sp
Fa
‘9
6
Sp
Fa
‘9
5
0
4
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Most Important Issues Facing AA County Residents –
 Spring 2006, Concern about the economy rises
Most Important Issue - Economy and Taxes Included
30
25
20
Education
15
15
14
12
12
10
8
Taxes
5
5
3
3
8
7
7
Economy
‘9
Sp 8
‘9
9
Fa
'9
9
Sp
‘0
0
Fa
‘0
Sp 0
‘0
1
Fa
'0
1
Sp
'0
2
Fa
'0
Sp 2
'0
3
Fa
'0
3
Sp
'0
4
Fa
'0
4
Sp
'0
5
Fa
'0
5
Sp
'0
5
‘9
8
Fa
‘9
7
Sp
Fa
‘9
7
‘9
6
Sp
Fa
‘9
6
Sp
Fa
‘9
5
0
5
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Focus on the Economy: Job Optimism with Inflation Anxieties
•
Economic optimism – “Thinking about our county's economy, how would you
rate economic conditions in Anne Arundel County today -- excellent, good, only fair, or
poor?”
Economic Conditions:
Local and National
100
80
74
76
60
74
55 56
62
74
71
74
AACounty Exc+Good
County
Nation Exc+Good
40
20 38
0
Spring
2002
26
27
Fall
2002
Spring
2003
22
Fall
2003
34
34
31
National
Spring
2004
Fall
2004
Spring
2005
28
Fall
2005
38
Spring
2006
6
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Economic Optimism - Perception of Issues in 2010
 Negative expectations for all major issue areas except economy
Worse
Better
The overall quality of life in the
County
Spiritual or religious life
Economic conditions
Family life
General responsiveness of County
government to citizens’ needs
Ethics in local government
Public schools
Health care
Growth and development
Crime
Water and air quality
Local taxes
Traffic congestion
About the
same
Fall 2004
BetterWorse
33
43
20
13
27
33
27
23
47
40
45
47
15
23
20
20
12
10
7
3
20
28
24
30
11
17
5
3
44
28
32
20
42
32
26
5
26
36
36
46
42
49
64
92
-6
-8
-12
-16
-31
-32
-59
-89
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LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Economic Anxiety - Concerns about the cost of living
Cost factor
Very
serious
Somewhat
serious
Not very
serious
No
answer
The cost of housing
65
23
11
0
The cost of utilities such as
electricity or natural gas
63
29
8
0
The cost of gasoline
62
30
8
0
The cost of health care
58
28
11
2
Not having enough money
for retirement
57
24
16
3
The cost of education
51
29
16
5
The cost of property taxes
49
37
12
2
8
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Anxiety unevenly spread: Income and % saying “very serious”
Housing Cost
0$50,000
$50,001 to
$100,000
$100,001 and
over
Overall
Health Care
79
63
46
60
Money for Retirement
73
64
43
59
Gasoline
70
62
53
62
Education
64
54
47
54
Housing
76
66
61
65
Property taxes
53
55
40
50
Utilities
65
65
55
64
Poorest-Richest
Health Care
33
30
Money for Retirement
Gasoline
17
Education
17
Housing
15
Property Taxes
13
Utilities
10
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
9
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Age and % saying “very serious”
18-29
30-44
45-59
60 +
Overall
Utilities Cost
52
57
64
77
64
Property Taxes
43
44
50
61
50
Gasoline
65
56
59
69
62
Housing
67
66
63
65
65
Health Care
66
55
59
62
60
Money for Retirement
65
62
52
58
59
Education
67
48
48
58
54
Oldest-Youngest
Utilities
25
Property Taxes
18
Gasoline
4
Housing
-2
Health
-4 Care
Money-7for Retirement
-9
-15
-10
Education
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
10
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Gender and % saying “very serious”
Item
Women
Men
Overall
Gasoline
Gasoline
70
54
62
Money for
Retirement
63
53
59
Utilities
Cost
68
Housing
69
61
65
Education
57
50
54
Health
Care
62
56
60
Property
Taxes
53
59
16
Money for
Retirement
10
64
Utilities
9
Housing
8
Education
48
7
50
Health Care
6
Property Taxes
5
0
5
10
15
20
11
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Race and % saying “very serious”
AfricanAmericans
Whites
Gasoline
78
59
62
Gasoline
Health Care
73
58
60
Health Care
Money for
Retirement
69
57
59
Money for Retirement
Housing
71
64
65
Education
57
53
54
Education
Utilities
Cost
67
64
64
Utilities
Property
Taxes
50
48
50
Overall
Af-Am/Whites and Costs
19
15
12
Housing
7
4
3
Property taxes
2
0
5
10
15
20
12
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
What is “affordable housing?” Fall 2002
Is the lack of affordable
housing in Anne Arundel
County a problem?
Yes
No
54%
34%
Don’t know 12%
Attribute cited
Percentage
Purchase price
Median: $150-175,000
39%
A type that is lacking in AA
County
20%
Housing type – apartments,
townhouses, section 8
19%
User type – low income, poor
9%
Other
12%
Total
100%
13
LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006
Main Economic Challenge for the Next Decade (Fall 2005)
Challenge
Managing growth/development
Providing affordable housing
Providing proper skills/education
for workers
Infrastructure, roads
Providing enough jobs
Govt. budget problems/services
Gas prices
Taxes
Other
% Citing
31
19
19
10
9
3
2
2
5
14
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Effectiveness of County Growth Policies (Fall 2004)
How effective have County policies been regarding growth and planning?
40
40
38
Very effective
35
Somewhat effective
30
Not very effective
25
20
16
Don't know
15
10
6
5
0
15
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Approaches for Managing Growth/Transportation (Fall 1998)
Approach to growth and transportation
Yes
No
Build or upgrade highly congested roads and intersections in
the county
77
13
Create a local jitney bus service
71
21
Increase bus availability to major cities (Balt/DC)
69
22
Make it easier to get o MARC trains
67
20
Make it easier to find other people with whom to carpool
63
26
Severely limit new residential development – higher impact
fees
54
33
Put moratorium on new residential development in your area
53
35
Reduce fares on public transportation
52
28
Allow more intense development of areas well served by
public transportation
43
45
16
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Confidence in/perceived preparedness of local authorities – meet
challenges or terrorist strike/natural disasters (Fall 2005)
Preparedness/
Confidence
Econ.
Environ.
Terror
Disaster
Very
8
7
11
11
Somewhat
45
38
42
49
Not very
41
50
44
36
No answer
7
6
3
4
17
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends
How prepared are local authorities in event of terrorist strike – 2001-2006
60
50
54
47
48
30
37 Not very
prepared
40
30
20
10
13
22
Very prepared
5
0
Somewhat
prepared
Katrina
44
48
33
27
24
15
11
15
8
11
Unsure
12
6
1
2
4
5
4
6
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
g
g
ll
g2
a ll
a ll
n
n
a
i
i
n
Fall
Fall
F
F
r
r
i
F
r
p
p
S
S
Sp
18
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Historical Perspective: How has County dealt with issues? (Fall 1999)
Gotten
better
Stayed
about the
same
Gotten
worse
BetterWorse
Improving the local economy
43
46
10
33
Improving the overall quality of life in
our County
34
52
14
20
Controlling crime
30
54
16
14
Improving the environment
35
39
26
9
Reducing poverty and homelessness
18
58
24
-6
Improving ethics in government
20
50
30
-10
Improving the efficiency of local
government
18
54
28
-10
Keeping taxes low
15
59
26
-11
Improving the academic performance
of our children
27
34
39
-12
Planning growth and development
25
30
45
-20
Reducing traffic congestion
15
16
70
-55
Issue
I am going to
read you a list of
problems facing
the County.
Please tell me
how well you
think the County
has dealt with
these problems
over the
last year. Has the
problem gotten
better, stayed
about the same,
or gotten worse?
19
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
 Crime Problem 1999-2005
Crime Problem: % saying Major, Moderate, Minor
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
56
60
66
Major
Moderate
23
16
1999
26
11
2002
17
12
Minor
2005
20
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
 Crime: Safety and Security in County and Neighborhood (2005)
90
80
77
% Saying "Very Safe"
70
60
50
71
63
55
County
Neighborhood
40
30
30
20
19
22
18
10
0
1997
1999
2002
2005
21
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
 Crime: Been a Victim of Crime? (1997-2005)
% Saying "Yes"
16
14
14
12
12
10
12
9
8
6
4
2
0
1997
1999
2002
2005
22
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
 Crime: Improve Safety (Average 1997-2005)
One Thing to Most Improve Safety
37
More Police, Visibility
9
More prevention, neighborhood patrols
8
Deal with drug problems
7
Harsher sentences, lock up criminals
Improve police training, methods, follow-up
6
Deal better with minors, in schools, youth activities
6
5
Traffic, catch speeders
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
23
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Education – Perceived Value to Taxpayers?
 Spend more, same or less on public service? (Spring 2004)
More
%
Same
%
Less
%
Don’t%
know
Public schools
71
23
5
1
Police
60
35
4
1
Fire
53
43
2
2
Community college
46
44
7
3
Seniors’ services
44
45
7
4
Roads
43
49
6
3
Average percentage
41
46
11
3
Environmental
programs
39
44
15
2
Social services
34
43
17
5
Health department
32
54
9
5
Libraries
26
67
6
1
Parks and recreation
26
57
16
2
Planning and zoning
13
42
39
7
Service
24
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
 Would proposals help, hurt or have no effect on the quality of public schools
Help
Hurt
No
effect
Help
Hurt
No
effect
Add Teaching Aides in
Classrooms
91
1
7
Increase Local Community
Control over Schools
69
11
20
Reduce Class Size
89
2
9
Provide More Elective Courses
in Higher Grades
66
13
21
Give Teachers More Power
when Dealing with
Disruptive Students
86
8
7
Allow more variety in the
curriculum
60
15
24
Emphasize a "Return to
Basics" Approach to Education
86
5
9
Change the School Board selection
process
60
8
33
Provide More Assistance to
Special Education
85
4
10
Provide More Financial Assistance
to Schools doing Poorly on
Standardized Tests
55
13
31
Encourage Flexibility in
Teaching Methods
83
9
8
Add some Specialized Programs
52
15
33
Increase Teacher Salaries
82
3
15
Introduce School Prayers
52
17
31
Start some Countywide
"Magnet" Schools
79
7
14
Place Some Schools on a Year
Round Schedule
49
24
27
Create a Special High
School for Disruptive
Students
76
13
12
Redistrict schools more
frequently
26
39
36
(Spring 1996)
25
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
If the County ends the year with a surplus, which of the following would you
prefer to see happen? (Fall 2005)
Proposal
%
The County spends it on high priority areas
28
The County keeps it for a ‘rainy day’ when it
might be needed, such as an emergency
19
The County sends it back to taxpayers as a tax refund
15
The County uses it to lower taxes next year
30
Other answer
5
No answer, unsure
2
26
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
General orientation – cut programs or cut spending? (Spring 2003, Fall 2003)
Proposal
Spring 2003 Fall 2003
Cut programs
40
34
Increase taxes
36
34
Other
--
18
Don’t know
24
14
100
100
Total
27
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Revenue enhancement – Income taxes (Spring 2003, Fall 2003)
Favor
Oppose
Unsure
An increase in state income taxes
26
72
3
Increasing the County’s local income tax rate
24
72
5
Increasing the corporate income tax rate by 1
percent
63
35
2
Placing a 3 percent surcharge on the income tax
of people who make $500,000 or more
annually
73
26
1
Approach
Increase income taxes for everyone
Increase income taxes on business and the “rich”
28
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Revenue enhancement – Sales/gasoline taxes (Spring 2003, Fall 2003)
Favor Oppose
Unsure
Increase the state sales tax by 1 percent, from 5 to 6
percent
31
66
2
An increase in the general sales tax
46
53
2
An increase in the state gasoline tax
29
69
2
Higher taxes on gasoline to encourage use of more
fuel efficient vehicles (Fall 2005)
20
76
4
29
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Revenue enhancement – User/Specific Fees (Fall 2003)
Approach
Favor Oppose
Unsure
Creating specific taxes to fund County public
safety such as fire & police County
53
43
5
Increasing impact fees on new housing
development in AA
65
30
5
Creating a $2.50 surcharge on monthly sewage
fees to help upgrade waste water treatment
plants
65
31
4
Legalizing slot machines in Maryland
62
33
6
30
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Expenditure reduction (Spring 2003)
Approach
Favor Oppose
Unsure
Postponing fully funding the Thornton Plan for
public education
32
47
20
Layoffs of state and County employees
26
69
6
Reducing salaries of state employees
14
81
5
Cutting back on state services
16
77
7
Reducing financial support for higher
education
18
78
4
31
LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006
Expenditure reduction – Identify ways to cut govt. spending (open-ended)
(Spring 2003)
Approach (N=85)
Favor
Cases
Reduce government salaries
15
13
Reduce politicians salaries
12
10
Reduce government perks
7
6
Cut waste, administration
11
9
Cut back on specific programs
39
33
Other miscellaneous
16
14
100
85
Total
32