A Survey of Voter Attitudes in Douglas County, Colorado

#12459

May 25-26, 2010

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Political Environment

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Now I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of Colorado have said are important to them. Please listen as I read the list and tell me which one

issue you think is most important to you.

23%

18%

23%

14%

11%

8%

Improving K-12 education

Strengthening DouglasCounty's economy and

protecting jobs

Controlling countygovernment spending

Keeping county taxes down

Water availability in DouglasCounty

Dealing with growth anddevelopment

Q1

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

How satisfied are you with the K-12 education system in Douglas County? Would you say you are – extremely satisfied, very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, or not at all

satisfied – with the K-12 education system in Douglas County?

Q2

11%

35%

4%

35%

Extremelysatisfied

Very satisfied Somewhatsatisfied

Not at all satisfied

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Do you think that the K-12 public education system in Douglas County has -- more money than it needs, about the right amount of money, or not enough money – to

provide a quality education to Douglas County K-12 school students?

Q3

17%

29%

47%

More than it needs Right amount Not enough

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Do you approve or disapprove of the job that the Douglas County Public School system is doing of making decisions on how to spend education tax

dollars?

Q4

51%

13%

35%

Approve Unsure Disapprove

incl. 16% “strongly”

incl. 19% “strongly”

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Typically, would you say that you have been inclined to vote –yes - in favor of, or no – against -- school bond and mill override proposals that have been on the ballot in

recent years?

Q5

53%

36%

Yes-in favor of No-against

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

With the recession, the state has had revenue shortfalls. In response to these shortfalls, funding for K through 12 education has been lower than once forecast. Over the last two school years the original budget for K through 12 has undergone mid-year cuts.  Douglas County Schools responded by making cuts in its budget.

 For the school year 2010 to 2011, the state is cutting per pupil funding as compared to the original budget by six percent which will result in a projected

reduction of twenty six million dollars for Douglas County Schools. The District is also projecting another round of reductions for the 2011 to 2012 school year.

Based on this situation, the Douglas County School District may propose both a mill override proposal and a bond proposal that would appear on the ballot this November.

Now, thinking first about a possible mill override issue…If a mill override was proposed and it read:

Shall the Douglas County School District taxes be increased by twenty million dollars annually for the purpose of having local revenues offset the state's K through 12 budget cuts? But the mill levy property tax rate shall not exceed the mill levy cap of fifty point six

mills approved by the voters in 1997.

Q6

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If the election on this mill override issue were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote

Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $20 million mill override initiative?

Q6

50%

2%

48%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

incl. 31% “definite” incl. 35%

“definite”

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If a bond was proposed and it read:Shall Douglas County School District debt be increased one hundred million dollars with a repayment cost of not to exceed one hundred ninety-five million dollars for the purposes of renovating, repairing or making additions to

existing school buildings, replacing school buses, and making technology upgrades.

If the election on this bond were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $100 million school bond initiative?

Q7

47%

3%

51%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

incl. 24% “definite”

incl. 34% “definite”

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If a different mill override was proposed and it read:Shall the Douglas County School District taxes be increased by forty million dollars annually for the purpose of having local revenues offset the state's K through 12 budget cuts and for the purpose of implementing a new and significantly more extensive teacher evaluation system in which teacher compensation is strongly tied to

student achievement and growth? This mill levy property tax rate would eliminate the mill levy cap of fifty point six mills approved by the voters in 1997.

If the election on this mill override issue were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote, Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $40 million mill override initiative?

Q8

33%

3%

64%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

incl. 12% “definite”

incl. 40% “definite”

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If a bond was proposed and it read:Shall Douglas County School District debt be increased two hundred million dollars with a repayment cost of not

to exceed three hundred ninety million dollars for the purposes of renovating, repairing or making additions to existing school buildings, replacing school buses, and making technology upgrades and also includes an

addition to Castleview high school, several new elementary schools, and funds for the construction needs of the district’s charter schools.

If the election on this bond were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote, Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $200 million school bond initiative?

Q9

32%

3%

65%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

incl. 14% “definite”

incl. 41% “definite”

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If both the most expensive of these proposals pass, the average home in this area will see their property taxes increase by two hundred sixty-one dollars per year. Knowing

this, do you think you would vote…Yes – in favor of, or No-against – these proposals?

Q10

43%

2%

56%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Additional Funding Proposals

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Proposal%

Favor%

Oppose

Imposing a twenty-five dollar technology fee on students. 63% 34%

Increasing the fee for athletics and paying more for high school and middle school athletics.

59% 37%

Imposing a 50 cent each way transportation fee on students who use school busing, which would amount to about 170 dollars per student per year.

50% 48%

Changing middle school sports teams to intramural teams. 49% 37%

Imposing a one hundred to one hundred fifty dollar fee for students participating in music programs.

41% 57%

Enacting a pay freeze for teachers and school district staffers. 40% 54%

Requiring teachers and school district staffers to take three days of unpaid leave.

39% 55%

Imposing a one hundred to one hundred fifty dollar fee for students participating in world language programs.

35% 62%

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Message Series

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Positive Messages with Majority More Likely Scores

Message

%More Likely

%Less

Likely

These funds would allow the district to keep class sizes at the current level or even decrease class sizes at some schools.

63% 26%

These funds would ensure the continuation of providing pay increases for high performing teachers.

60% 31%

The school district has already taken drastic steps to reduce spending like freezing teacher salaries for two straight years, imposing three days of unpaid leave on all district employees, and changed to a more cost effective health care plan.

57% 33%

These funds will help improve and maintain ninety eight schools and other facilities, including neighborhood and charter schools.

52% 34%

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Other Positive Messages Tested

Message

%More Likely

%Less

Likely

These funds would allow the school district to implement a system where tax dollars for education would follow the student, allowing the student to attend their school of choice.

47% 44%

These funds allow the district to stop charging the transportation fees that it recently imposed.

46% 40%

More schools will be able to continue to utilize year round calendars to address growth pressures.

45% 41%

Without these funds, charter schools will also be forced to make spending cuts just like the ones being made at neighborhood schools.

45% 41%

Even the most expensive of these proposals would only cost the average homeowner less than twenty-two dollars per month.

45% 46%

Without these funds, the pay for performance program for teachers would end. 42% 42%

These funds would allow the school district to expand school choice by offering more charter and magnet schools.

38% 50%

These proposals have the endorsement of conservative school board members. 37% 43%

These funds would allow the school district to expand school choice by allowing a student to attend a private school.

31% 58%

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Opposition Messages

Message

%More Likely

%Less

Likely

The school district is an unreformed school district that is coming back in the middle of a recession to pass a tax increase.

23% 55%

These proposals are a tax increase on homes at a time when most homeowners can least afford to be paying more taxes.

33% 54%

We should not reward the financial mismanagement of the school board by providing additional funding to rescue them from these mistakes.

39% 44%

Especially in these tough economic times, the school board should find a way to live within its means like every person in the county.

54% 35%

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

Second Ballots

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If a mill override was proposed and it read:Shall the Douglas County School District taxes be increased by twenty million dollars annually for the purpose of

having local revenues offset the state's K through 12 budget cuts? But the mill levy property tax rate shall not exceed the mill levy cap of fifty point six mills approved by the voters in 1997.

If the election on this mill override issue were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote, Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $20 million mill override initiative?

Q6&36

50%46%

51%

2%

48%

4%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

First ballot Second ballot

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If a bond was proposed and it read:Shall Douglas County School District debt be increased one hundred million dollars with a repayment cost of not to exceed one hundred ninety-five million dollars for the purposes of renovating, repairing or making additions to

existing school buildings, replacing school buses, and making technology upgrades.

If the election on this bond were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote, Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $100 million school bond initiative?

Q7&37

47%45%

53%

3%

51%

2%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-againstFirst ballot Second ballot

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If a different mill override was proposed and it read:Shall the Douglas County School District taxes be increased by forty million dollars annually for the purpose of having local revenues offset the state's K through 12 budget cuts and for the purpose of implementing a new and significantly more extensive teacher evaluation system in which teacher compensation is strongly tied to

student achievement and growth? This mill levy property tax rate would eliminate the mill levy cap of fifty point six mills approved by the voters in 1997.

If the election on this mill override issue were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote, Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $40 million mill override initiative?

Q8&38

33% 32%

66%

3%

64%

2%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

First ballot Second ballot

May 25-26, 2010 / N=300 “likely” voters / ±5.8% M.O.E.

If a bond was proposed and it read:Shall Douglas County School District debt be increased two hundred million dollars with a repayment cost of not

to exceed three hundred ninety million dollars for the purposes of renovating, repairing or making additions to existing school buildings, replacing school buses, and making technology upgrades and also includes an

addition to Castleview high school, several new elementary schools, and funds for the construction needs of the district’s charter schools.

If the election on this bond were held today, and you had to make a choice, would you vote, Yes – in favor of, or No-against – this $200 million school bond initiative?

Q9&39

32% 31%

66%

3%

65%

3%

Yes-in favor Undecided No-against

First ballot Second ballot