Alachua County Community Survey

Report

Report Outline

• Analysis of survey tool

• Description of population and sample

• Zip Code Response Rates

• Findings

• Other Information

Analysis of Survey Tool

Weakness– This survey is NOT a formal

scientific study.

– This survey does not generate a true random sample.

– Responses are limited to only citizens that choose to participate which reduces the confidence of any inferences.

– Can not fully distinguish between incorporated and unincorporated citizen perceptions.

Analysis of Survey Tool

Strength

• Presented an opportunity for all citizens to communicate directly with the Commission.

• Provides a broad overview of citizens perceptions and concerns.

• Most likely offers more information than one can gather in small social conversations…

Description of Population and Sample

Who received the survey?• Theoretically everyone… more than once.

– An estimated 99,690 surveys were mailed – Surveys were also available online.

Who returned the survey?• This year 1764 surveys were received and

analyzed.

• 577 more surveys than last years total.

Population Distribution by Zip Code

• Transition slide

7

8

Survey Findings

– Very good– Good– Fair– Poor – Very Poor– No Opinion

Question 1 asked citizens to rate their perception of the following services as:

Perception of Services

Perception of ServicesAnimal Services

16%

37%

16%

6% 3%

24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor Very Poor NoOpinion

(n = 1668)

Perception of ServicesCodes Enforcement

7%

29%

24%

11%7%

23%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1614)

Perception of ServicesEnvironmental Protection

12%

36%

26%

8%4%

14%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1644)

Perception of ServicesFire Rescue

44%

40%

5%1% 1%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1657)

Perception of ServicesGarbage/Recycling

29%

42%

16%

6% 3% 4%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1693)

Perception of ServicesParks

14%

39%

25%

8% 5%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1664)

Perception of ServicesPlanning and Zoning

5%

17%

29%

18% 19%

12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1668)

Perception of ServicesPublic Information

9%

32% 31%

12%

7%10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1653)

Perception of ServicesPublic Health

11%

35%

24%

7% 4%

19%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1664)

Perception of ServicesRoad Maintenance

4%

20%

32%

22% 21%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1681)

Perception of ServicesSocial Services

8%

27% 25%

7% 5%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1657)

Perception of ServicesTourism Promotion

8%

27% 25%

7% 5%

30%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

VeryGood

Good Fair Poor VeryPoor

NoOpinion

(n = 1656)

Citizen / Employee Interaction

• Question 2 asked if the citizen had personal contact with any one employed by Alachua County in the past year.

• If the citizen had, they were then asked to describe their contact as:– Very Good– Good– Fair– Poor– Very Poor

Citizen / Employee Interaction

• 1258 citizens indicated that they had personal contact with someone employed by Alachua County in the past year.

• Of these 1258 citizens, 1242 rated their experience.

36% 38%

15%

6% 5%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Very Good Good Fair Poor Very Poor

(n = 1242)

• Question 3 asked: If the County Commission increases the gas tax to fund transportation needs, how would you prioritize the following.

• Citizens were given 4 options:– New Roads

– Mass Transit

– Pave Existing Dirt Roads

– Maintain Existing Roads

Priority For Transportation Improvements

Priority For Transportation Improvements

Improvement

Priority

New Roads(n =1519)

Pave

Dirt Roads(n =1517)

Mass

Transit(n = 1511)

Maintain

Existing Roads(n = 1572)

Highest Priority 17.2% 13.8% 21.0% 53.1%

High Priority 20.1% 21.6% 22.9% 35.4%

Low Priority 29.5% 37.5% 21.2% 8.5%

Lowest Priority 33.2% 27.1% 34.9% 3.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

New Roads Pave DirtRoads

Mass Transit MaintainExisting Roads

Highest Priority High Priority Low Priority Lowest Priority

CHOICES Awareness

• Question 4 asked citizens “How aware are your of Alachua County CHOICES health service Program.”

43%

35%

22%

0%

20%

40%

Very Aware Somewhat Aware Not At All Aware

(n = 1712)

Funding for Non- Profit Organizations

• Citizens were asked if the County should provide funding for the following types of non-profit organizations:

– Arts and Culture organizations – Ecological & Historical organizations – Active Recreation organizations – Social Services organizations – Economic Development organizations

Should Funding be provided

56%

44%

66%

34%

68%

32%

70%

30%

57%

43%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Art

s an

dC

ult

ure

Eco

log

ical

&H

isto

rica

l

Act

ive

Rec

reat

ion

So

cial

Ser

vice

s

Eco

no

mic

Dev

elo

pm

ent

Yes No

Funding Priority for Non-Profits

• The citizens were asked to prioritize the organizations on a scale from 1 (High) to 5 (Low).

• Rankings were only

recorded from those citizens who indicated that funding should be provided.

Funding Priority Rankings

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Arts & Cultural Ecological & Historical Active Recreation Social Services Economic Development

Highest Priority High Priority A Priority Low Priority Lowest Priority

Organization

Priority

Arts & Cultural

(n=880)

Ecological & Historical

(n=1033)

Active Recreation

(n=1061)

Social Services

(n=1101)

Economic Development

(n=885)

Highest Priority 16.3% 27.8% 26.9% 39.7% 28.7%

High Priority 25.7% 24.1% 29.5% 28.7% 24.2%

A Priority 25.9% 22.4% 21.5% 17.2% 18.0%

Low Priority 19.3% 17.6% 14.5% 10.7% 11.6%

Lowest Priority 12.8% 8.1% 7.6% 3.7% 17.5%

Information Source

• Question 6 asked citizens, “How do you get information regarding Alachua County government?”

• Citizens were given 5 options to choose from:– Radio– Newspaper– Community Update e-newsletter– Television– Alachua County Website

Information Source• Citizens were asked to rate each media

source, based on the amount of information it to provided them.

• Additionally, citizens were asked to identify the station, channel, or publication of their source.

16%

40%

3%

26%

5%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Radio Newspaper E-newsletter TV Website

Most Information

Continue funding

Alachua County Forever

• Question 7 asked citizens if they would favor extending the .25 mil. ad valorem assessment which funds the Alachua County Forever land conservation program.

• Of those responding: – 46% answered “Yes”– 54% answered “No”

Other Information•Comments

Some citizens provided additional comments with their surveys. In the report, these comments are recorded as “other comments” and are referenced to the affiliated survey and the affiliated question when possible.

• Email Subscriptions– As a direct result of this

survey, 377 respondents signed up to receive the Community Update newsletter via email.

• 200 more than last year.

Other Information