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Home My WebLink About03-25-09 South Bend Budget Priorities Survey Questionnaire South Bend Budget Priorities Survey Questionnaire (Also available on line at www.southbendIN.gov) 1. Generally speaking, do you feel that things in the country these days are going in the right direction, or do you feel that things are pretty seriously off on the wrong track? ? ? Right direction Wrong track 12 2. How about South Bend? Generally speaking, do you feel that things in South Bend these days are going in the right direction, or do you feel that things are pretty seriously off on the wrong track? ? ? Right direction Wrong track 12 3. Do you think that in the last few years the overall appearance and condition of the neighborhood where you live have become better, stayed about the same, or become worse? ? ? ? Become better Stayed about the same Become worse 123 Mayor Luecke and the South Bend City Council are facing difficult budgeting decisions because the property tax cap set by the state legislature will reduce the City's income for next year by about eighteen million dollars. With its income so much lower, the City won’t be able to do everything it does now and must establish priorities. Listed below are the goals stated in South Bend's City Plan that was adopted by the Council in 2006. Knowing that City's income will be a lot lower next year and it won't be able to do everything it does now, what priority do you think the Mayor and Council should give to addressing each goal: High Priority, Medium Priority, or Low Priority? 4. Well-planned growth with compatible land uses ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 5. Diversified transportation systems that support bus, bike, and pedestrian mobility ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 6. Efficient public works such as roads, water and sewers ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 7. High quality public services such as police, fire, and ambulance ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 8. A thriving housing market in appealing neighborhoods ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 1 9. A healthy and diversified economy with good jobs and business start-ups ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority10. 123 Environmental practices that enhance the quality of air, water, and land resources ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 11. Attractive public spaces and parks ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 12. An inclusive community that achieves ethnic and racial harmony ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 13. A dynamic environment for arts and culture ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 14. Life-long educational opportunities ? ? ? High priority Medium priority Low priority 123 The City is going to have to cut some services next year because just reducing administrative costs and doing things more efficiently won't save enough to offset the City's lost income. Listed below are descriptions of several specific services the City provides now. For each of them, please check the box to indicate whether you think, next year, the City should: Keep The Current Level Of Service And Funding, Increase The Level A Little Bit, Increase The Level A Lot, Decrease The Level A Little Bit, Decrease The Level A Lot, or Entirely Eliminate The Service. 15. Upgrading infrastructure (such as roads and public utilities) in order to attract new businesses and jobs ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 16. Maintaining and upgrading parks and recreational facilities ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 17. Maintaining and upgrading streets ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 18. Providing annual financial support for the operation of arts-related organizations in the community ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 2 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 19. Maintaining around-the-clock police car patrols covering beats throughout the city ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 20. Providing fall leaf pickup ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 21. Employing Animal Control officers who patrol neighborhoods to identify violations of the city's animal control ordinance and to deal with animals that are stray, injured, or neglected, animal bites, nuisance and cruelty complaints, and wildlife problems ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 22. Providing annual financial support for operation of Project Future, the non-profit economic development organization that works to attract new businesses and jobs to the community ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 23. Maintaining enough fire stations, firefighters, and fire trucks to ensure fire suppression coverage throughout the city, with average response times of less than five minutes for urgent calls ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 24. Providing emergency medical services coverage throughout the city, with average response times of less than six minutes ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 25. Employing Code Enforcement Inspectors who patrol neighborhoods and deal with abandoned vehicles, environmental problems such as uncollected trash, garbage, litter and debris, and housing code violations ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 3 26. Maintaining and upgrading the Potawatomi Zoo ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 27. Allowing Police officers to take their squad cars home ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 28. Investing in projects that will help the development of nanotechnology and other high-tech industries and jobs in South Bend ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 29. Providing annual financial support for venues unique to South Bend, such as the Morris Performing Arts Center, Studebaker Museum, and East Race Waterway ? ? ? Keep the current level Increase a lot Cut a lot 135 ? ? ? Increase a little Cut a little Entirely eliminate 246 30. Thinking of South Bend as a whole, what do you feel is the one biggest need Mayor Luecke and the City Council should do something about in the next couple of years? ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ 31. And, how about the neighborhood where you live? What do you feel is the one biggest thing Mayor Luecke and the City Council should do to make your neighborhood become better in the next couple of years? ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ In the following questions, we would like you tell us about yourself. Please answer all questions. 32. We want to make sure we represent people living in all areas of South Bend. What is your Zip Code + 4? __ __ __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ (If you don't know your Zip+4, you can go to http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ to find it.) 4 33. What race, or races, do you consider yourself? (Indicate all that apply) ? ? White or Caucasian American Indian or Alaska Native 14 ? ? Black or African-American Asian 25 ? ? Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 36 ? Other: ______________________________ 7 34. What is the highest level of school you have completed? ? ? Some high school Bachelor’s degree 15 ? ? High school diploma Some graduate school 26 ? ? Some college Master’s degree 37 ? ? Associates certificate/2 year program Doctorate/Advanced degree 48 35. In what year were you born? __ __ __ __ 36. Are you registered to vote? ? ? Yes No 12 37. Considering all elections, primary and general, do you vote all the time, most of the time, sometimes, hardly ever, or never vote? ? ? ? All the time Sometimes Never 135 ? ? Most of the time Hardly ever 24 38. Which category best describes your 2008 gross household income, before taxes? Remember to include everyone living in your household. Your best estimate will do. ? ? ? Less than $15,000 $30,000-$50,000 $75,000-$100,000 135 ? ? ? $15,000-$30,000 $50,000-$75,000 Over-$100,000 246 Please return to: South Bend Mayor’s Office 1400 County-City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, IN 46601 Optional: Name:____________________________________________________________ Address or email:___________________________________________________ 5